oso pardo
/ˌoso ˈpaɾdo/masculine
The English phrase grizzly bear is translated into Spanish as oso pardo or oso gris.
Meaning: Ursus arctos horribilis (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| oso pardo | /ˌoso ˈpaɾdo/ | masculine |
| oso gris | /oso ɡɾis/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
Both terms are used to refer to the species Ursus arctos horribilis.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both oso pardo and oso gris are masculine phrases.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌoso ˈpaɾdo/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, oso can be used as a slang term for a 'social blunder' or an embarrassing moment, often phrased as hacer un oso.
- The word pardo used in oso pardo comes from the Latin word for 'leopard'.
- In Spanish, the word oso is used both for the animal and as a colloquial term for someone who is clumsy or awkward.
Examples in context
- Ayer observé un oso grizzly en la montañaYesterday, I spotted a grizzly bear in the mountains
- El oso pardo es muy grande.The grizzly bear is very large.
- Vi un oso pardo en el bosque.I saw a grizzly bear in the forest.
- Ese oso pardo es peligroso.That grizzly bear is dangerous.
Example conversation
Daniel and María are looking at a nature documentary on TV.
- Daniel¿Es ese un oso pardo?Is that a grizzly bear?
- MaríaSí, Daniel, es un oso pardo.Yes, Daniel, it is a grizzly bear.
- DanielEs un animal impresionante.It is an impressive animal.
- MaríaPero también es muy fuerte.But it is also very strong.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grizzly bear” translations and entries oso pardo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gris, oso, oso pardo, pardo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
