estiércol de vaca
/estjeɾkol de baka/from spelling rules
The English phrase "cow manure" is translated into Spanish as estiércol de vaca.
This phrase refers to waste matter from cows that is used as fertilizer for plants. In technical or scientific contexts, you can also use estiércol bovino to describe bovine manure.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase estiércol de vaca is composed of estiércol (manure/dung) and de vaca (of cow).
Which one should you use?
While estiércol de vaca is a standard way to express the concept, estiércol bovino is used when you want to sound more technical or scientific. For describing cattle waste in a general sense, one might also use the formal expression desechos vacunos or the formal term excremento bovino for bovine excrement.
Did you know?
- In some regions, the process of composting estiércol de vaca is known as curado, which literally means 'curing', as if the manure were meat or tobacco.
- In many rural Spanish-speaking communities, estiércol de vaca is traditionally dried and burned as a primary fuel source for heating and cooking.
- The Spanish word estiércol shares a root with the rare English medical term 'stercoraceous', which describes something that resembles or contains feces.
Examples in context
- Se recomienda utilizar fertilizante orgánico como el estiércol de vaca para mejorar la calidad del sueloIt is recommended to use organic fertilizer such as cow manure to improve soil quality
- ¡Cuidado con pisar la caca de vaca en el campo!Be careful not to step on cow manure in the field!
- Necesitamos estiércol de vaca para el jardín.We need cow manure for the garden.
- El estiércol de vaca es muy bueno para las plantas.Cow manure is very good for plants.
- Ese agricultor usa estiércol de vaca en sus cultivos.That farmer uses cow manure on his crops.
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are working in their vegetable garden.
- Sofía¿Tienes el estiércol de vaca para los tomates?Do you have the cow manure for the tomatoes?
- DanielSí, lo tengo en el cobertizo, Sofía.Yes, I have it in the shed, Sofía.
- SofíaPerfecto, Daniel, vamos a usarlo ahora.Perfect, Daniel, let's use it now.
- DanielMuy bien, las plantas lo agradecerán.Very well, the plants will appreciate it.
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.
