anguila
/anˈɡila/feminine
The Spanish word for eel is anguila.
The term refers to any fish belonging to the order Anguilliformes.
Meaning: any fish of the order Anguilliformes (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of South America, particularly in Chile, the term congrio is used to refer to different species of eels. In certain coastal regions of Mexico and some Central American countries, such as Costa Rica, the term morena is used to describe eels.
How do you pronounce it?
/anˈɡila/
Did you know?
- The Latin root of anguila is also the ancestor of the English word 'anguish', relating to the way a snake or eel might twist and writhe.
- In some Spanish maritime slang, calling someone an anguila can imply they are a cunning or deceptive person.
- While anguila is the general term, the word morena refers specifically to moray eels and can also describe a person with dark skin or hair.
Examples in context
- Cogí una anguila.I caught an eel.Tatoeba #8419025 by arh, translation #6466701 by Eccles17
- El pez anguila es conocido por su cuerpo serpentino y sus movimientos fluidos en el agua.The eel fish is known for its serpentine body and smooth movements in the water.
- Ayer vi una anguilita muy pequeña nadando en el río cercano.Yesterday I saw a very small eel swimming in the nearby river.
- La anguila es muy larga.The eel is very long.
- Vimos una anguila en el río.We saw an eel in the river.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are looking at a seafood menu in a restaurant.
- Elena¿Quieres probar la anguila?Do you want to try the eel?
- AlejandroNo, prefiero el salmón.No, I prefer salmon.
- ElenaEstá bien, pediré la anguila para mí.That's fine, I will order the eel for myself.
- AlejandroPerfecto, suena muy rico.Perfect, it sounds very tasty.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “eel” translations and entries anguila, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
