dodo
/ˈdodo/masculine
The Spanish word for dodo is dodo. If unsure, use dodo. Wiktionary also lists dronte.
Meaning: Raphus cucullatus (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dodo | /ˈdodo/ | masculine |
| dronte | /ˈdɾonte/ | masculine |
The word refers to the bird species Raphus cucullatus.
Which one should you use?
While dodo is the common name, dronte is a more technical or scientific term used to refer to the same bird.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun dodo is masculine and is used with the masculine article el.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdodo/
Did you know?
- While dodo is the standard word, the alternative dronte comes from the Portuguese word drontes, which was used by early explorers in the 17th century.
- In some Spanish-speaking scientific circles, the term dronte is preferred because it avoids the comical or silly connotation that dodo can carry.
- Because dodo is a palindrome, it is often used in Spanish primary schools to teach children about words that read the same in both directions.
Examples in context
- El dodo es una especie ya extinta.The dodo is an already extinct species.Tatoeba #1248842 by wallebot, translation #1248757 by alec
- Si no tenemos cuidado, el tigre pronto seguirá el camino del dodo.If we're not careful, the tiger will soon go the way of the dodo.Tatoeba #919435 by Shishir, translation #910527 by darinmex
- El dodo habitaba en las islas de Mauricio.The dodo inhabited the islands of Mauritius.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are at a natural history museum.
- MateoMira, este es el esqueleto de un dodo.Look, this is the skeleton of a dodo.
- LucíaEs muy grande, no sabía que el dodo era así.It's very big, I didn't know the dodo was like that.
- MateoVivían solo en la isla de Mauricio.They lived only on the island of Mauritius.
- LucíaEs triste que ya no existan.It's sad that they no longer exist.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dodo” translations and entries dodo, dronte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
