pato
everyday, Mexico
In Mexico a duck is a pato. A female duck is a pata, and a baby duck is an patito.
Meaning: a water bird (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| pato | everyday, Mexico |
| pata | female duck |
The word pato covers the bird in general. The meat is also pato, as in pato en salsa.
How does it change in a sentence?
Patito takes the diminutive ending and is used for ducklings and in children's songs.
When do people say it?
Mexican cooking has dishes of duck, such as duck in mole or in pipián sauce.
Did you know?
- The Spanish expression pagar el pato means to take the blame for something you did not do.
Examples in context
- Hay patos en el lago.There are ducks on the lake.
- Los patitos siguen a su mamá.The ducklings follow their mother.
- Comimos pato en mole.We ate duck in mole.
Example conversation
A father, Alonso, takes his daughter Sofía to the lake in Chapultepec park.
- SofíaPapá, mira los patos.Dad, look at the ducks.
- AlonsoSí, y también hay patitos.Yes, and there are ducklings too.
- Sofía¿Les podemos dar pan?Can we give them bread?
