elefante
neutral, Mexico
An elephant is elefante in Mexican Spanish, and the word is the same everywhere. A female elephant is elefanta. It is also called elefantes.
Meaning: large animal with a trunk (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| elefante | neutral, Mexico |
| elefanta | female |
| elefantes | plural |
Use elefante for the animal. The trunk is trompa, the tusks are colmillos and a baby elephant is elefantito or cría de elefante.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Nothing changes in Mexico for this word. The only difference you may hear is the diminutive elefantito in family talk.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural is elefantes, and a very large thing can be called un elefante blanco for something big and useless.
Did you know?
- The expression elefante blanco is used in Mexico for an expensive public work that does little good.
Examples in context
- El elefante tiene una trompa larga.The elephant has a long trunk.
- Vimos un elefantito en el zoológico.We saw a baby elephant at the zoo.
- Esa obra fue un elefante blanco.That project was a white elephant.
Example conversation
Teresa and her son Leo visit the zoo in Chapultepec.
- LeoMamá, mira, un elefante.Mom, look, an elephant.
- TeresaEs enorme. Fíjate en su trompa.It is huge. Look at its trunk.
- LeoQuiero una foto con él.I want a photo with it.
