piojos
/pjoxos/from spelling rules
The English phrase "lice" is translated into Spanish as piojos.
piojos is the most common and universal term used to describe the small parasitic insects that live on the scalp of humans or animals.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of the word is piojo, meaning a single louse.
How do you pronounce it?
/pjoxos/
Did you know?
- The word piojo can be used as a nickname for children in some families, particularly in Spain, to express endearment, despite the unpleasant literal meaning.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, the term piojo is used metaphorically to describe a person who is extremely stingy or cheap. It describes someone who would rather suffer than spend a single cent.
- The phrase está como un piojo is used in several Latin American countries to describe a person who is extremely restless or cannot stop moving.
Examples in context
- Me entran picores solo de pensar en los piojos.I get itchy just by thinking about lice.This sentence illustrates how the thought of piojos can cause itching.Tatoeba #10886140 by Seael, translation #10921675 by Luornu
- ¿Por qué se rasca tanto? ¿Acaso tiene piojos?Why do you itch so much? Could you have lice?This sentence is used to wonder if someone has piojos based on how much they are scratching.Tatoeba #1203697 by alexmarcelo, translation #1205638 by AlanF_US
- Mi hijo tiene piojosMy child has lice
- La pediculosis es común en niñosLice infestation is common in children
- Mi primo tiene liendres en el peloMy cousin has lice eggs in his hair
- Los piojos son un problema común en las escuelas.Lice are a common problem in schools.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are talking about their children at home.
- DanielHe revisado a los niños y no tienen piojos.I checked the children and they don't have lice.
- ElenaQué alivio, me asusté cuando vi a tu hija rascándose.What a relief, I got scared when I saw your daughter scratching.
- DanielSolo era una picadura de mosquito.It was just a mosquito bite.
- ElenaMenos mal, porque los piojos son una pesadilla.Thank goodness, because lice are a nightmare.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
