caca
/ˈkaka/
The English phrase 'kaka' is translated into Spanish as caca.
The term is used to refer to feces. It is an informal, childish word, much like the English word 'poop'.
Which one should you use?
While caca is a childish term, other Spanish words exist for different contexts: popó is an informal term used by both children and adults, mierda is an informal and somewhat vulgar term and excremento or heces are formal words used in medical or scientific settings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
caca is an informal and childish term. For more professional, serious or medical contexts, you should use excremento or heces. For general informal use by adults, popó is common, while mierda is considered vulgar.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaka/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, the phrase hacer caca is replaced by the euphemism hacer del dos, which literally means 'to do the number two'.
- While caca is childish, the related word cagada is used colloquially to describe a huge mistake or a 'screw-up'.
- The word caca is a linguistic sibling to the more vulgar Spanish verb cagar, both of which trace back to the Latin word cacare.
Examples in context
- El perro hizo caca en la alfombra.The dog made poop on the rug.
- ¡Mira, hay caca en el parque!Look, there is poop in the park!
- Mi gato siempre hace caca fuera de su caja.My cat always poops outside of his box.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are cleaning up after a puppy.
- ElenaJavier, el perro hizo caca aquí.Javier, the dog pooped here.
- JavierNo me importa, yo la limpio.I don't mind, I'll clean it up.
- ElenaBusca una bolsa para la caca.Look for a bag for the poop.
- JavierSí, están en la cocina.Yes, they are in the kitchen.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry caca, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caca, CC BY-SA 4.0.
