Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| amamantar | /amamanˈtaɾ/ |
| dar teta | /daɾ teta/ (from spelling rules) |
| dar de mamar | /daɾ de mamaɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
| lactar | /laɡˈtaɾ/ |
| dar el pecho | /daɾ el pet͡ʃo/ (from spelling rules) |
| achichiguar | /at͡ʃit͡ʃiˈɡwaɾ/ |
| atetar | /atetaɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
| tetar | /tetaɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
| lechar | /leˈt͡ʃaɾ/ |
All these terms describe the act of feeding a baby milk via the breasts.
Which one should you use?
While lactar can be used to mean breastfeed, it more specifically refers to the biological process of producing milk (lactating).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Amamantar is the standard, neutral and most common term used in medical or formal contexts. Lactar is also used in formal contexts. If you want to be slightly more polite or use a euphemism, you can use dar el pecho. For very colloquial and informal situations, such as speaking between friends or family, you can use dar teta.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using amamantar, the second-person singular is Tú amamantas, the third-person singular is Él/Ella amamanta, the first-person plural is Nosotros/Nosotras amamantamos and the third-person plural is Ellos/Ellas amamantan. For the verb lactar, the second-person singular is Tú lactas and the first-person plural is Nosotros/Nosotras lactamos.
How do you pronounce it?
/amamanˈtaɾ/
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Es importante que las madres lacten a sus bebés para brindarles los nutrientes necesarios.It is important for mothers to breastfeed their babies to provide them with the necessary nutrients.
- La Organización Mundial de la Salud recomienda que las madres amamanten exclusivamente durante los primeros seis meses.The World Health Organization recommends that mothers breastfeed exclusively for the first six months.
- Las madres suelen dar pecho a sus bebés varias veces al día.Mothers usually breastfeed their babies several times a day.
- ¿Sigues amamantando al bebé?Are you still breastfeeding the baby?
- Ella decidió amamantar a su bebé en casa.She decided to breastfeed her baby at home.
- Es importante amamantar durante los primeros meses.It is important to breastfeed during the first months.
- El médico recomendó amamantar al recién nacido.The doctor recommended breastfeeding the newborn.
Example conversation
A doctor is giving advice to a new mother in a clinic.
- MateoLucía, ¿tienes dudas sobre cómo amamantar?Lucía, do you have doubts about how to breastfeed?
- LucíaSí, Mateo, me preocupa si lo hago bien.Yes, Mateo, I am worried if I am doing it right.
- MateoNo te preocupes, lo estás haciendo excelente.Don't worry, you are doing it excellently.
- LucíaMuchas gracias por tus consejos.Thank you very much for your advice.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “breastfeed” translations and entries amamantar, dar teta, lactar, dar el pecho, achichiguar, atetar, tetar, lechar, 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 dar, de, el, lactar, mamar, teta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
