burro
/ˈburo/masculine
The Spanish word for donkey is burro. Wiktionary also lists jumento and asno.
Meaning: a domestic animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| burro | /ˈburo/ | masculine |
| jumento | /xuˈmento/ | |
| asno | /ˈasno/ | masculine |
The terms in this pack all refer to the domestic animal. Note that in many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling a person a burro is a common insult used to suggest they are stupid or uneducated.
Which one should you use?
While burro is the standard term, asno is a more formal option. Jumento is a highly formal, archaic or literary term for the animal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Jumento is a term used in some regions of Spain as an equivalent to burro or asno.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form burro can be changed to the feminine burra to refer specifically to a female donkey.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈburo/
When do people say it?
When using the word for the animal, be aware that applying the word burro to a person is a widespread way to insult their intelligence.
Did you know?
- The word burro is a distant relative of the word for 'fire', as it traces back to the Greek word πῦρ meaning 'fire'.
- While burro is used for the animal, it is also the word used for a 'sawhorse' or a folding trestle used to support objects.
- The word asno shares a common ancestor with the English word 'ass', making them linguistic siblings.
Examples in context
- Un burro es gris.A donkey is gray.This sentence uses burro to describe the color of the animal.Tatoeba #3994395 by gianich73, translation #3693316 by andrewgtreantos
- Llegó en su burro.He came on his donkey.This sentence uses burro to describe a method of transport.Tatoeba #13681922 by Seael, translation #13681915 by Aghanim
- Un burro coceó a Tom.A donkey kicked Tom.This sentence uses burro to describe an action performed by the animal.Tatoeba #11705604 by Seael, translation #11697876 by shekitten
- El burro es un animal domesticado comúnmente utilizado para trabajos rurales en varias partes del mundo.The donkey is a domesticated animal commonly used for rural work in many parts of the world.
- ¡Mira ese burrito tan lindo, parece de peluche!Look at that cute little donkey, it looks like a stuffed animal!
- La burra es un animal muy apreciado en esta región.The female donkey is a very appreciated animal in this region.
- Los acémilas son cruciales para transportar mercancías en estas zonas montañosas.The working donkeys are crucial for transporting goods in these mountainous areas.
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are looking at animals on a farm.
- LucíaMira ese burro, Javier.Look at that donkey, Javier.
- JavierSí, es un burro muy bonito.Yes, it is a very pretty donkey.
- Lucía¿Es de tu abuelo?Does it belong to your grandfather?
- JavierNo, el burro es de la vecina.No, the donkey belongs to the neighbor.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “donkey” translations and entries burro, jumento, asno, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries asno, burro, jumento, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
