escarabajo
/eskaɾaˈbaxo/masculine
The Spanish word for beetle is escarabajo. Wiktionary also lists acatanca and catanga.
Meaning: insect (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| escarabajo | /eskaɾaˈbaxo/ | masculine |
| acatanca | /akatanka/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| catanga | /katanɡa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
The word refers to the insect known as a beetle.
Which one should you use?
escarabajo is the standard and most common term used to describe any beetle, whereas Coleóptero is the official scientific term.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The terms acatanca and catanga are feminine forms of the word for beetle.
How does it change in a sentence?
escarabajo is a masculine noun. acatanca and catanga are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/eskaɾaˈbaxo/
Did you know?
- The word escarabajo is frequently used in Spanish-speaking countries as a colloquial term for the Volkswagen Beetle car.
- The Greek origin of the word, kárabos, actually meant both 'crab' and 'beetle', reflecting how ancient observers grouped certain hard-shelled creatures together.
- In Spanish, the word escarabajo contains the suffix -ajo, which was historically used to add a pejorative or belittling tone to the noun.
Examples in context
- Hay una babosa y un escarabajo participando en relaciones sexuales en mi patio, resultarán muertos en breve.There is a slug and a beetle partaking in sexual relations in my yard, they'll end up dead shortly.This sentence shows how to use escarabajo when describing creatures in a yard.Tatoeba #9136666 by rafaeldejesus8199, translation #9136669 by rafaeldejesus8199
- Nemesio estaba acunando a una larva de escarabajo en media cáscara de nuez cuando notó el olor del incendio.Nemesio was rocking a beetle larva in half a nut shell when he noticed the smell of fire.This sentence illustrates the use of escarabajo in a descriptive narrative.Tatoeba #10176972 by Seael, translation #10185195 by DJ_Saidez
- Esto es un escarabajo.This is a beetle.This sentence provides a simple way to identify an escarabajo.Tatoeba #7160984 by Adelpa, translation #12930340 by araneo
- Vi un escarabajo brillante en el jardín.I saw a shiny beetle in the garden.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and María are walking in a park.
- MateoMira ese escarabajo en la hoja.Look at that beetle on the leaf.
- MaríaEs un escarabajo muy grande.It is a very large beetle.
- Mateo¿Es un escarabajo de colores?Is it a colorful beetle?
- MaríaSí, es un escarabajo brillante.Yes, it is a shiny beetle.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beetle” translations and entries escarabajo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries escarabajo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
