espuela de caballero
/espwela de kabaʝeɾo/from spelling rulesfeminine
In Spanish, the English phrase larkspur is translated as espuela de caballero or delfinio.
Meaning: Delphinium (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| espuela de caballero | /espwela de kabaʝeɾo/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| delfinio | /delfinjo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
The term refers to the Delphinium plant.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase espuela de caballero literally translates to 'gentleman's spur', referring to the shape of the flower's spur.
Which one should you use?
Espuela de caballero is the common name for the plant, whereas delfinio is the more technical or botanical name.
How does it change in a sentence?
The common name espuela de caballero is a feminine noun phrase, so it takes the feminine article la.
Did you know?
- While 'larkspur' in English focuses on a bird, the Spanish common name espuela de caballero ignores birds entirely. It focuses instead on the 'spur' used by a 'gentleman' or knight.
- The technical name delfinio has a surprising connection to the sea. Just like in English, the name stems from the Greek word for 'dolphin' because the shape of the plant's buds resembles the animal.
- The word caballero in espuela de caballero shares its roots with the English word 'cavalier', both originating from the Latin word for 'horse'.
Examples in context
- La espuela de caballero es azul.The larkspur is blue.
- Compré una espuela de caballero para el ramo.I bought a larkspur for the bouquet.
- Esa espuela de caballero tiene un color precioso.That larkspur has a beautiful color.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are looking at flowers in a garden shop.
- Daniel¿Te gusta esta espuela de caballero?Do you like this larkspur?
- LucíaSí, es una espuela de caballero muy bonita.Yes, it is a very pretty larkspur.
- DanielCreo que combinaría bien con tus rosas.I think it would go well with your roses.
- LucíaTienes razón, Daniel, me la llevaré.You are right, Daniel, I will take it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “larkspur” translations and entries espuela de caballero, 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 caballero, de, espuela, CC BY-SA 4.0.
