erizo
/eˈɾiθo/masculine
The Spanish word for hedgehog is erizo.
erizo refers to the animal known as a hedgehog. It is also used as part of the phrase erizo de mar to refer to a sea urchin.
Meaning: animal (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of erizo is erizos.
How do you pronounce it?
/eˈɾiθo/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, erizar is a verb meaning 'to make your hair stand on end' or 'to bristle' from fear or cold.
- The phrase se me eriza la piel is used similarly to the English expression 'it gives me goosebumps'.
- The Spanish word erizo shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'urchin', both originating from a root meaning 'to bristle'.
Examples in context
- Compra un erizo y serás feliz.Buy a hedgehog and you'll be happy.This sentence shows the use of erizo in a suggestion about happiness.Tatoeba #1314527 by Shishir, translation #833425 by lion_boniface
- El erizo, el topo, la nutria, el conejo y la zarigüeya parecen roedores pero no lo son.A hedgehog, a mole, an otter, a bunny and a possum look like rodents, but they're not.This sentence uses erizo when listing different animals that might be mistaken for rodents.Tatoeba #10268291 by Seael, translation #9344577 by DJ_Saidez
- El lomo del erizo es espinoso.The hedgehog's back is spiny.This sentence uses erizo to describe the spiny back of the animal.
- Según mi investigación, el erizo es un animal nocturno.According to my research, the hedgehog is a nocturnal animal.
- El cochinito de espinas se enrolló en una bola cuando lo asustamos.The little pig with spines curled up into a ball when we scared it.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are looking at animals in a park.
- Elena¡Mira, Javier! Hay un erizo allí.Look, Javier! There is a hedgehog there.
- JavierEs muy pequeño y lindo.It is very small and cute.
- ElenaNo lo toques, el erizo tiene espinas.Do not touch it, the hedgehog has spines.
- JavierTienes razón, mejor solo lo miramos.You are right, we should just watch it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hedgehog” translations and entries erizo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries erizo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
