estiércol de vaca
/estjeɾkol de baka/from spelling rules
In Spanish, cow dung is estiércol de vaca.
This phrase refers to the waste matter excreted by a cow. While estiércol de vaca specifies the source, the single word estiércol is often used more broadly to mean manure used as fertilizer.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of estiércol (dung/manure) and de vaca (of cow).
Which one should you use?
While estiércol de vaca specifically refers to cow dung, the word estiércol alone is often used more broadly to mean manure used as fertilizer.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a formal context, you can use estiércol de vaca or excremento de vaca. In informal situations, you might use caca de vaca or mierda de vaca.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Latin American countries, the word bosta is a common way to refer to cow dung. Specifically in some South American countries, such as Argentina and Uruguay, bosta is used as an informal way to refer to cow dung.
Did you know?
- In many parts of Latin America, calling something 'una bosta' can be a way to insult someone or call something useless, moving far beyond the literal meaning of cow dung.
- The Spanish word estiércol is a direct relative of the rare English medical term 'stercoraceous', which describes something consisting of or resembling feces.
Examples in context
- ¿Crees que una campesina que lleva una vida más orgánica que tú en un país abandonado, mientras usa estiércol de vaca para hacer fuego, es en cierto modo más rica que tú?Do you think a peasant girl living a more organic life than you in a forsaken country, as she uses cow dung to make fire, is in a way richer than you?This sentence illustrates the use of estiércol de vaca in a descriptive context.Tatoeba #10606962 by nonong, translation #10605609 by nonong
- El estiércol de vaca es un buen abono.Cow dung is a good fertilizer.
- Tenemos que limpiar el estiércol de vaca del campo.We have to clean the cow dung from the field.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are working on a small organic farm.
- DanielElena, ¿necesitamos más estiércol de vaca para las plantas?Elena, do we need more cow dung for the plants?
- ElenaSí, Daniel, el jardín necesita mucho abono.Yes, Daniel, the garden needs a lot of fertilizer.
- DanielVoy a buscar un poco en el establo.I am going to look for some in the stable.
- ElenaGracias, trae también un poco de tierra.Thanks, bring some soil too.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, estiércol, vaca, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
