cucaracha
neutral, Mexico
In Mexico a cockroach is a cucaracha. In casual talk people shorten it to cuca.
Meaning: a common household insect (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| cucaracha | neutral, Mexico |
| cuca | informal, Mexico |
Say hay una cucaracha to report one. The pest spray people buy is an insecticida.
When do people say it?
The folk song La Cucaracha is one of the best known songs of Mexico and many learners meet the word there first.
Did you know?
- The song La Cucaracha dates from the time of the Mexican Revolution and has many verses that changed with the people singing it.
Examples in context
- Hay una cucaracha en la cocina.There is a cockroach in the kitchen.
- Las cucarachas salen de noche.Cockroaches come out at night.
Example conversation
Rosa sees something in the kitchen and calls her brother Beto in Mexico City.
- Rosa¡Beto, hay una cucaracha!Beto, there is a cockroach!
- Beto¿Dónde? No la veo.Where? I do not see it.
- RosaSe metió debajo de la estufa.It went under the stove.
