cobaya
/koˈbaʝa/feminine, masculine
The English phrase 'guinea pig' is translated into Spanish as cobaya. Wiktionary also lists conejillo de Indias.
Meaning: experimental subject (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cobaya | /koˈbaʝa/ | feminine, masculine |
| conejillo de Indias | /koneˌxiʝo de ˈindjas/ | masculine |
The term is used to refer to an experimental subject.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase conejillo de Indias literally translates to 'little rabbit of the Indies'.
Which one should you use?
While both terms refer to the animal, conejillo de Indias is more commonly used in a figurative sense to mean an experimental subject, whereas cobaya is more frequently used for the actual animal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cuba, the term curí may be used to refer to guinea pigs.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of the feminine noun cobaya is cobayas, and the plural of conejillo de Indias is conejillos de Indias.
How do you pronounce it?
/koˈbaʝa/
Did you know?
- While English uses 'guinea pig', Spanish refers to the animal as a conejillo de Indias, effectively calling it a 'little rabbit' from the Americas instead of a 'pig'.
- The word cobaya is a rare example of a common household word being adopted directly from a formal Latin scientific name.
- The term conejillo de Indias reflects a historical European geographical error, as the animals are native to the Andes and not the 'Indies'.
Examples in context
- ¿Dónde compró Nabila una cobaya?Where did Nabila buy a guinea pig?This sentence is useful for asking where someone purchased a cobaya.Tatoeba #10063106 by manufrutos, translation #10062134 by Amastan
- El cuy es una mascota adorable.The guinea pig is an adorable pet.
- La cobaya es originaria de América del Sur.The guinea pig is native to South America.
- Los conejillos de Indias son animales cariñosos y sociables.Guinea pigs are affectionate and sociable animals.
- Mi hermana tiene un cochinito de Indias llamado Chispitas.My sister has a guinea pig named Chispitas.
- La cobaya fue utilizada para el experimento.The guinea pig was used for the experiment.
- No quiero ser una cobaya de su nueva medicina.I don't want to be a guinea pig for their new medicine.
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are discussing a medical study at a university.
- Javier¿Vas a participar en el estudio clínico?Are you going to participate in the clinical study?
- ElenaNo, no quiero ser una cobaya de este laboratorio.No, I don't want to be a guinea pig for this laboratory.
- JavierEntiendo, es un riesgo muy grande para ti.I understand, it is a very big risk for you.
- ElenaExacto, prefiero no arriesgar mi salud.Exactly, I prefer not to risk my health.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “guinea pig” translations and entries cobaya, conejillo de Indias, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cobaya, conejillo, de, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
