garrapata de los ciervos
/ɡarapata de los θjeɾbos/from spelling rulesfeminine
The English phrase "deer tick" is translated into Spanish as garrapata de los ciervos. Wiktionary also lists garrapata de patas negras.
Meaning: hard-bodied tick (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| garrapata de los ciervos | /ɡarapata de los θjeɾbos/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /ɡarapata de los sjeɾbos/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| garrapata de patas negras | /ɡarapata de patas neɡɾas/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
This term refers to a hard-bodied tick.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, the term garrapata del venado may be used instead of garrapata de los ciervos.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡarapata de los θjeɾbos/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, garrapata is used both for the biological tick and as a slang term for a person who clings to others or is a social parasite.
- The word garrapata likely evolved from an Old Spanish term caparra and the Basque word gaparra meaning 'bramble'.
- In some Spanish-speaking areas, folk remedies such as applying heat or alcohol are traditionally used to remove a garrapata before seeking medical help.
Examples in context
- El bosque está infestado de garrapatas del ciervo.The forest is infested with deer ticks.
- Los expertos nos advirtieron sobre la propagación de la garrapata del ciervo.The experts warned us about the spread of the deer tick.
Example conversation
María and Javier are hiking in the woods.
- MaríaMira, Javier, creo que tienes una garrapata de los ciervos.Look, Javier, I think you have a deer tick.
- Javier¡Qué horror! ¿Dónde está exactamente?How awful! Where exactly is it?
- MaríaEstá pegada a tu pierna derecha.It is attached to your right leg.
- JavierQuítala rápido, por favor.Remove it quickly, please.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “deer tick” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, garrapata, los, CC BY-SA 4.0.
