cobayo
neutral
In Mexico a guinea pig is a cobayo or a conejillo de Indias. The second name means "little rabbit of the Indies".
Meaning: small pet rodent (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| cobayo | neutral |
| conejillo de Indias | neutral |
Both words name the pet. Conejillo de Indias is also used for a person or thing used as a test subject.
Which one should you use?
The word cuy is used in the Andes, but it is not the normal Mexican word.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase stays the same for male and female animals: un conejillo de Indias.
Did you know?
- The English phrase "guinea pig" for a test subject has a Spanish twin in conejillo de Indias.
Examples in context
- Mi hija tiene un cobayo.My daughter has a guinea pig.
- Compramos un conejillo de Indias.We bought a guinea pig.
- No quiero ser el conejillo de Indias.I do not want to be the guinea pig.
Example conversation
Paty and her son Andrés visit a pet store in Querétaro.
- AndrésMamá, quiero un cobayo.Mom, I want a guinea pig.
- Paty¿Quién lo va a cuidar?Who will take care of it?
- AndrésYo, lo prometo.I will, I promise.
