cabra
neutral
The animal is a cabra, and a male goat is often a chivo in Latin America. In Spain estar como una cabra is a slang idiom meaning to be a little crazy.
Meaning: the farm animal, and a crazy person in a figure of speech (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| cabra | neutral |
| Chivo | informal, Latin America |
| Estar como una cabra | slang, Spain |
Estar como una cabra is friendly teasing, not an insult.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Chivo is common in Mexico and Colombia. In Spain chivo is used for a young goat, so the word has a different meaning.
How does it change in a sentence?
Cabra is feminine, so you say una cabra. For the male, use un macho cabrío in careful speech.
Did you know?
- The Spanish idiom estar como una cabra compares a restless goat to a person acting wildly.
Examples in context
- Hay una cabra en el campo.There is a goat in the field.
- Compramos un chivo para la fiesta.We bought a goat for the party.
- Mi tío está como una cabra.My uncle is a bit crazy.
Example conversation
Julia visits her grandfather on his farm in Spain.
- JuliaAbuelo, ¿cuántas cabras tienes?Grandpa, how many goats do you have?
- AbueloVeinte, y una está como una cabra.Twenty, and one is a bit crazy.
- JuliaJa, ja, ¿cuál es?Ha ha, which one is it?
