ciervo
/ˈθjeɾbo/
The English word "buck" can translate to Spanish as ciervo depending on the intended meaning.
When referring to the animal known as a "buck" in English, use ciervo. While "buck" can be an informal term for a dollar in English, if you wish to refer specifically to a one-dollar bill in Spanish, the term is billete de un dólar. Additionally, the related English verb "to buck" (describing a horse leaping upward with its back arched and hind legs kicking out) is translated as corcovear.
Meaning: informal: dollar (noun)
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈθjeɾbo/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word ciervo is a homophone for siervo, meaning 'servant'. This phonetic identity is often used in Spanish literature and poetry to create irony or wordplay between nobility and servitude.
- The word ciervo shares an ancient root with the English word 'heart' via the Proto-Indo-European root *ḱer-, though they diverged thousands of years ago.
- While ciervo is the standard term, in many parts of Latin America, people prefer the word venado to describe the same animal.
Examples in context
- ¡Eso vale treinta lukas!That's worth thirty bucks!
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are at a small street market.
- María¿Cuánto cuesta este anillo, Alejandro?How much is this ring, Alejandro?
- AlejandroCuesta unos veinte ciervos.It costs about twenty bucks.
- MaríaEs muy barato, lo compraré.It is very cheap, I will buy it.
- AlejandroEs una ganga.It is a bargain.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ciervo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ciervo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
