ninfa
/ˈninfa/feminine
The English word cockatiel is translated into Spanish as ninfa. Wiktionary also lists cacatúa ninfa and carolina.
Meaning: a small, rather atypical cockatoo with a distinctive pointed yellow crest (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ninfa | /ˈninfa/ | feminine |
| cacatúa ninfa | /kakaˌtua ˈninfa/ | feminine |
| carolina | /kaɾoˈlina/ | feminine |
The term refers to the small, rather atypical cockatoo characterized by its distinctive pointed yellow crest.
Which one should you use?
The term cacatúa refers to the broader family of cockatoos, whereas ninfa specifically refers to the cockatiel. The word ninfa is the most common and direct way to refer to this specific bird in Spanish.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina and Uruguay, the term for cockatiel is Cotorrita australiana.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ninfa is a feminine noun, meaning it is used with feminine articles such as la.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈninfa/
Did you know?
- The term cacatúa is actually a linguistic traveler that originated from the Malay word 'kakatua'.
- While ninfa is the standard term, some Spanish speakers use carolina to refer to the cockatiel.
- The word ninfa is used for the bird regardless of the animal's actual gender because it is a grammatically feminine noun.
Examples in context
- El periquito australiano es una especie de ave originaria de Australia.The cockatiel is a species of bird native to Australia.
- La ninfa es muy sociable.The cockatiel is very sociable.
- Compré una ninfa de color gris.I bought a grey cockatiel.
- Tu ninfa tiene una cresta bonita.Your cockatiel has a beautiful crest.
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are looking at a pet shop window.
- Lucía¿Viste esa ninfa amarilla?Did you see that yellow cockatiel?
- DanielSí, es muy pequeña.Yes, it is very small.
- LucíaDaniel, ¿podemos comprar una?Daniel, can we buy one?
- DanielTal vez más tarde.Maybe later.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cockatiel” translations and entries ninfa, cacatúa ninfa, carolina, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cacatúa, cacatúa ninfa, ninfa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
