opilión
/opiljon/from spelling rules
The English phrase "daddy long legs" can be translated into Spanish as opilión.
The term refers to a harvestman or a long-legged spider.
Which one should you use?
opilión is the standard term, while araña pata larga is an informal way to describe the creature as a "long-legged spider".
How do you pronounce it?
/opiljon/
Did you know?
- In certain Latin American countries, the phrase pata larga can be used as a slang term for a tall person, mirroring the physical description of the opilión.
- Depending on the region, a harvestman might be called a zancudo if the speaker is referring to its long legs, though this word usually means 'mosquito'.
- An English speaker might look for 'piernas largas' to describe the legs, but in Spanish, the focus is on the word 'patas' for animals.
Examples in context
- Hay un opilión en ese inodoro.There's a daddy long legs in that toilet.This sentence shows how to use opilión when identifying the creature in a specific location.Tatoeba #14006196 by rul, translation #13999785 by rul
- El opilión es un artrópodo con ocho patas largas y finas.The daddy long legs is an arthropod with eight long and thin legs.
- Ese opilión tiene patas muy largas.That daddy long legs has very long legs.
- Vi un opilión cerca de la pared.I saw a daddy long legs near the wall.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are looking at a bug in the garden.
- Daniel¿Qué es esa cosa?What is that thing?
- SofíaEs un opilión, no le tengas miedo.It is a daddy long legs, don't be afraid of it.
- DanielEs muy pequeño y tiene patas largas.It is very small and has long legs.
- SofíaSí, es un opilión inofensivo.Yes, it is a harmless daddy long legs.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
