caca
/ˈkaka/
The English phrase 'dookie' can be translated into Spanish as caca.
caca is an informal way to refer to feces in Spanish.
Which one should you use?
While caca is used in casual or childish contexts, the term heces is the formal medical or scientific term for feces. Additionally, caca is relatively mild and often used with children, whereas mierda is a vulgar profanity equivalent to the English 'shit'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
caca is an informal, childish term for feces, similar to the English 'poop' or 'doo-doo'. For a formal way to refer to bodily waste, you may use excremento.
How does it change in a sentence?
caca is a feminine noun and is typically used in the singular form when referring to the substance in general.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaka/
Did you know?
- The word caca comes from the Latin verb cacare, which was used in ancient Rome to describe the act of defecating.
- The related verb cagar can also be used figuratively in Spanish to mean 'to mess up' or 'to fail', much like the English 'to screw up'.
- In many Spanish-speaking households, caca is used as a general word for anything 'gross' or 'dirty', even if it is not actually feces.
Examples in context
- María siempre se asegura de desechar el excremento de su mascota adecuadamente.Maria always makes sure to dispose of her pet's waste properly.
- ¡Cuidado! No pises esa caca de perro.Watch out! Don't step on that dog poop.
- El perro dejó caca en el jardín.The dog left dookie in the garden.
- Hay un poco de caca en la alfombra.There is a little bit of dookie on the carpet.
- ¡Mira, esa caca es enorme!Look, that dookie is huge!
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are walking through a park.
- Elena¡Cuidado, Alejandro, hay caca en el camino!Watch out, Alejandro, there is dookie on the path!
- AlejandroMenos mal que no la pisé.Good thing I didn't step on it.
- ElenaFue por poco, casi te manchas.That was close, you almost got it on you.
- AlejandroQué asco, mejor caminemos por el otro lado.How gross, better if we walk on the other side.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry caca, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caca, CC BY-SA 4.0.
