burro
/ˈburo/
To say burro in Spanish, meaning a small donkey, use burro.
burro is the everyday Spanish word for a donkey. English borrowed the word from Spanish, so it means the same animal in both languages.
Meaning: small donkey (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
burro is a masculine noun. The plural adds s.
How do you pronounce it?
burro is pronounced /ˈburo/, with a strongly rolled r and the stress on the first syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often pronounce the double r like an English r. In Spanish it is a trilled r, made by letting the tongue tip vibrate.
Did you know?
- The word burro has an unexpected connection to fire. It stems from the Latin word burrus, meaning 'red-brown', which traces back to the Ancient Greek word for 'fire'.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, a burro is not just a donkey but also a term for a makeshift wooden trestle or a sawhorse used in construction.
- In some Spanish-speaking contexts, calling someone a burro is a way to call them extremely stupid or slow-witted, rather than just describing the animal.
Examples in context
- El burro es muy joven.The donkey is very young.
- Vimos un burro en el campo.We saw a donkey in the field.
- Ese burro es de color gris.That donkey is grey.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are walking through a small village.
- Alejandro¿Ves a ese burro allí?Do you see that donkey over there?
- ElenaSí, es un burro muy bonito.Yes, it is a very pretty donkey.
- AlejandroParece que tiene mucha hambre.It looks like it is very hungry.
- ElenaEs verdad, vamos a darle algo.It's true, let's give it something.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry burro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries burro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
