coatí
/koaˈti/masculine
The English word coati is translated into Spanish as coatí. Wiktionary also lists cuchucho and cusumbo.
Meaning: any of several animals of the genus Nasua (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| coatí | /koaˈti/ /koa̯ˈti/ |
masculine |
| cuchucho | /kuˈt͡ʃut͡ʃo/ | Ecuador, masculine |
| cusumbo | /kuˈsumbo/ | Colombia, masculine |
| gato solo | /ɡato solo/ (from spelling rules) | Panama, masculine |
| pezote | /peθote/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /pesote/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
El Salvador, masculine |
| pizote | /piˈθote/ /piˈsote/ |
Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, masculine |
| tejón | /teˈxon/ | Mexico, masculine |
| zorro guache | /θoro ɡwat͡ʃe/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /soro ɡwat͡ʃe/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
Venezuela, masculine |
The term refers to any of several animals belonging to the genus Nasua.
Which one should you use?
While coatí is the standard term, many different names are used depending on the specific country and level of formality.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, the animal is commonly called a pizote instead of a coatí. In Mexico, the term tejón is occasionally used. In Colombia, the term is cusumbo, while in Ecuador, it is cuchucho. In Panama, the animal is known by the name gato solo. In El Salvador, it is called a pezote and in Venezuela, it is referred to as a zorro guache.
How does it change in a sentence?
All provided forms are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/koaˈti/
Did you know?
- The word coatí is not originally Spanish but was borrowed from the Paraguayan Guarani language word kuati.
- In Panama, the coati is called gato solo, which literally translates to 'lone cat'.
- In Mexico, the term tejón is sometimes used for the coati, but in Spain, tejón refers exclusively to a badger.
Examples in context
- El coatí es un mamífero que se encuentra principalmente en América Central.The coati is a mammal found mainly in Central America.
- ¿Sabías que el pizote es pariente del mapache?Did you know that the coati is a relative of the raccoon?
- Vi un coatí en el bosque.I saw a coati in the forest.
- El coatí tiene una cola larga.The coati has a long tail.
- Ese coatí está buscando comida.That coati is looking for food.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are walking through a tropical nature reserve.
- Alejandro¡Mira, Elena! Un coatí está sobre esa rama.Look, Elena! A coati is on that branch.
- ElenaEs muy bonito, Alejandro.It is very pretty, Alejandro.
- AlejandroParece que el coatí tiene hambre.It looks like the coati is hungry.
- ElenaSí, está comiendo frutas.Yes, it is eating fruit.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coati” translations and entries coatí, cuchucho, cusumbo, gato solo, pizote, tejón, 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 coatí, gato, solo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
