cabeza de pollo
/kabeθa de poʝo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "chicken head" can be translated into Spanish as cabeza de pollo.
This phrase is used to describe a person who is scatterbrained or someone who is unable to concentrate on a single thing.
How do you pronounce it?
/kabeθa de poʝo/
Did you know?
- While cabeza de pollo refers to being scatterbrained, calling someone a gallina (hen) instead changes the meaning entirely to calling them a coward.
- To describe a scatterbrain, Spanish speakers might also use cabeza de chorlito, which refers to the flighty nature of a plover bird.
- In some Latin American workplaces, the term pollo is used as slang for the most junior person or the 'newbie' in a group.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are looking for the house keys.
- Lucía¿Dónde dejaste las llaves, Javier?Where did you leave the keys, Javier?
- JavierNo lo recuerdo, soy un cabeza de pollo.I don't remember, I'm scatterbrained.
- LucíaSiempre pierdes las cosas.You always lose things.
- JavierLo siento, Lucía, ya las encontré.Sorry, Lucía, I found them already.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
