venado
Mexico, common
In Mexico a deer is usually called venado. Ciervo is the more general word and is understood everywhere. It is also called venadito.
Meaning: hoofed forest animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| venado | Mexico, common |
| ciervo | general |
| venadito | diminutive |
Use venado for the animal and for the meat. A female deer is venada and a baby deer is cervatillo or venadito.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Mexican speakers lean toward venado in daily talk, while ciervo often appears in books and in Spain.
When do people say it?
The deer is important in the traditions of northern peoples such as the Yaqui, who perform the danza del venado.
Did you know?
- The Yaqui danza del venado is performed by a dancer who wears a deer head and imitates the movements of the animal.
Examples in context
- Vimos un venado en el cerro.We saw a deer on the hill.
- La venada cuida a su cría.The doe looks after her young.
- El ciervo salió del bosque.The deer came out of the forest.
Example conversation
Tomás shows his daughter Lucía a photo from a hike in Chihuahua.
- TomásMira, aquí vimos un venado.Look, we saw a deer here.
- Lucía¿Estaba solo, papá?Was it alone, Dad?
- TomásNo, atrás venía una venada con su venadito.No, a doe with her fawn was behind it.
