cacatúa
/kakaˈtua/feminine
The Spanish word for cockatoo is cacatúa.
cacatúa is a noun used to refer to the bird known as a cockatoo.
Meaning: a bird (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/kakaˈtua/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word cacatúa was borrowed from the Malay word 'kakatua'.
- In certain idiomatic contexts, calling someone a cacatúa can imply they are overly flashy or vain, mirroring the bird's striking crest.
- Spanish speakers distinguish cacatúa from guacamayo, a word used specifically for the larger, colorful macaws of the Americas.
Examples in context
- Vi un hermoso ejemplar de cacatúa en el zoológico.I saw a beautiful cockatoo specimen at the zoo.
- Mi vecino tiene un loro cacatúa muy simpático.My neighbor has a very friendly cockatoo parrot.
- El galah es una especie de cacatúa muy llamativa.The galah is a very striking cockatoo species.
- La cacatúa blanca parece un pedacito de nube voladora.The white cockatoo looks like a little piece of flying cloud.
- La cacatúa es de color blanco.The cockatoo is white.
- Vi una cacatúa en el zoológico.I saw a cockatoo at the zoo.
- Esa cacatúa tiene una cresta muy bonita.That cockatoo has a very pretty crest.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are at a zoo.
- ElenaMira, Daniel, ¡una cacatúa!Look, Daniel, a cockatoo!
- DanielEs muy bonita y grande.It is very pretty and big.
- ElenaMe gusta el color de la cacatúa.I like the color of the cockatoo.
- DanielSí, es un ave increíble.Yes, it is an incredible bird.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cockatoo” translations and entries cacatúa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cacatúa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
