How to Say "Duckling" in Spanish

patito

/paˈtito/masculine

The Spanish word for duckling is patito.

The term refers to a young duck.

Meaning: young duck (noun)

How does it change in a sentence?

The plural masculine form is patitos.

/paˈtito/

While patito means duckling, the phrase pagar el pato means to take the blame for something you did not do.
In some Latin American countries, pato can be slang for a gay man, which makes the diminutive patito potentially loaded with subtext depending on the context.
Spanish speakers often use animal diminutives like patito as nicknames for children to describe them as cute or small, even if they have no relation to ducks.

El pequeño patito puede nadar.
The small duckling can swim.
This sentence is useful for describing the swimming ability of a patito.
Tatoeba #5897215 by albrusgher, translation #3768015 by Wuzzy
El pequeño patito está nadando.
The small duckling is swimming.
This sentence is useful for describing a patito currently swimming.
Tatoeba #5897214 by albrusgher, translation #3768010 by Wuzzy
Todo esto fue muy triste para el pobre pequeño patito.
All this was very sad for the poor little duckling.
This sentence is useful for expressing sympathy for a patito.
Tatoeba #5897217 by albrusgher, translation #3757208 by Hybrid
El profesor explicó detalladamente cómo los patitos aprenden a nadar.
The teacher explained in detail how ducklings learn to swim.
¡Mira qué lindo patito!
Look at that cute duckling!
Los niños estaban fascinados con los patos bebés en el parque.
The kids were fascinated by the ducklings in the park.
3 more sentences on Tatoeba

Mateo and Sofía are walking by a small lake in a park.

Mateo

¿Ves a ese patito cerca de las flores?
Do you see that duckling near the flowers?
Sofía

Sí, es muy bonito, Mateo.
Yes, it is very cute, Mateo.
Mateo

Parece que está buscando comida.
It looks like it is looking for food.
Sofía

Es muy tierno verlo nadar.
It is very sweet to see it swim.

Sources

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