Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| madriguera | /madɾiˈɡeɾa/ | feminine |
| cubil | /kuˈbil/ | masculine |
| guarida | /ɡwaˈɾida/ | feminine |
All these terms refer to a place that serves as a home or shelter for certain animals or a hiding place for people.
Which one should you use?
The choice between these words depends on the specific type of den you are describing. Use madriguera for the biological burrows or dens of small animals like rabbits or foxes. Use cubil for a more literary or archaic sense, often describing the lair of a large, powerful beast such as a dragon or a lion. Use guarida when speaking figuratively to describe a hideout for criminals or a place where someone is hiding.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some countries, such as Mexico and certain parts of Latin America, the informal phrase salón de juegos is used to describe a den.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural, use madrigueras for madriguera, guaridas for guarida and cubiles for cubil.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡwaˈɾida/
Did you know?
- The word madriguera is etymologically linked to the concept of a 'womb', as it stems from the Late Latin 'mātrīcāria'.
- While guarida describes a criminal's hideout, the word guarida can also be used in a romantic or protective sense to describe a cozy sanctuary.
Examples in context
- Esta isla es una guarida de piratas.This island is a pirates' den.This sentence is useful for seeing how to describe a den used by people, specifically for the word guarida.Tatoeba #7921163 by Seael, translation #7919685 by Hybrid
- Cuando el caballero entró en el cubil del dragón se quedó maravillado por todos los tesoros que allí había, aunque por suerte el dragón no estaba.When the knight went into the dragon's den, he was amazed at all the treasures in there, although luckily the dragon wasn't there.This sentence is useful for seeing how to describe the lair of a large beast, specifically for the word cubil.Tatoeba #9950014 by Shishir, translation #10017201 by DJ_Saidez
- Nos vemos en el cuarto de estar para ver una película.Let's meet in the den to watch a movie
- Vamos al salón de juegos para jugar videojuegos.Let's go to the den to play video games
- El zorro se esconde en su guarida.The fox hides in its den.
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are hiking in a forest.
- MateoMira, hay una guarida de lobos allí.Look, there is a wolf den over there.
- Elena¡Qué miedo! No nos acerquemos, Mateo.How scary! Let's not go near it, Mateo.
- MateoTienes razón, sigamos por el sendero.You are right, let's continue along the path.
- ElenaSí, es mejor estar seguros.Yes, it is better to be safe.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “den” translations and entries madriguera, cubil, guarida, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cubil, guarida, madriguera, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
