Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| en celo | /en ˈθelo/ /en ˈselo/ |
|
| salido | /saˈlido/ | masculine |
| verriondo | /berjondo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| embramado | /embɾaˈmado/ | Central America, masculine |
| enfumado | /enfumado/ (from spelling rules) | Honduras, masculine |
| enlunado | /enlunado/ (from spelling rules) | Latin America, masculine |
| alunado | /alunado/ (from spelling rules) | Central America, masculine |
| cachondo | /kaˈt͡ʃondo/ | masculine |
The standard and most widely understood term to indicate that an animal is in estrus across all Spanish-speaking regions is en celo.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase en celo is composed of the preposition en (in) and the noun celo (zeal, fervor or heat/estrus).
Which one should you use?
While en celo is the biological term for animals, the colloquial term cachondo is used to describe a person feeling sexual arousal or being horny.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Central America, you may encounter the masculine forms embramado and alunado. In Honduras, the masculine form enfumado is a specific term used to describe an animal in heat. In Latin America, the masculine form enlunado is also used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase en celo is an adverbial phrase and does not change its form based on the gender or number of the subject.
How do you pronounce it?
/en ˈθelo/
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Mi gata está en celo.My cat is in heat.This sentence is useful for stating that a cat is in heat using en celo.Tatoeba #11671257 by Seael, translation #11668495 by Nuel
- La perra está en celo y necesita mayor supervisión.The dog is in heat and needs increased supervision.
- Durante su periodo de celo, la gata marca territorio con más frecuencia.During her heat period, the female cat marks her territory more frequently.
- ¡Ese perro está en celo otra vez!That dog is in heat again!
- El caballo está en celo y necesita ser separado de las yeguas.The horse is in heat and needs to be separated from the mares.
- En esta época del año, los pájaros entran en periodo de celo.During this time of year, birds go into heat.
- Mi gato está en celo y no para de maullar.My cat is in heat and won't stop meowing.
- La perra de la vecina está en celo.The neighbor's dog is in heat.
- Parece que mi gatita está en celo de nuevo.It seems my little cat is in heat again.
Example conversation
María and Mateo are talking about their pets at home.
- María¿Por qué maúlla tanto la gatita?Why is the little cat meowing so much?
- MateoCreo que está en celo, María.I think she is in heat, María.
- María¡Qué problema! Tendré que cuidarla más.What a problem! I will have to take more care of her.
- MateoNo te preocupes, yo te ayudo.Don't worry, I will help you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “in heat” translations and entries en celo, salido, verriondo, embramado, cachondo, 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 celo, en, salido, verriondo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
