How to Say "Lioness" in Spanish

leona

/leˈona/feminine

The Spanish word for "lioness" is leona.

leona is a noun used to refer specifically to a female lion.

Meaning: female lion (noun)

Which one should you use?

While leona refers to a female lion, the masculine form león is used to refer to a male lion.

leona is the feminine form of the noun.

/leˈona/

The word leona can also refer to a female puma, as pumas are sometimes called leones de montaña or 'mountain lions'.
While leona is the biological term, a person might be called a leona metaphorically to describe a woman who is fiercely protective of her family.
In some Latin American contexts, leona is used as slang for a woman who is incredibly ambitious or aggressive in pursuing her goals.

La leona al final dio caza a la gacela.
The lioness finally gave chase to the gazelle.
This sentence shows the word leona in the context of hunting a gazelle.
Tatoeba #845520 by Shishir, translation #851126 by papabear
Soy una leona.
I'm a lioness.
This sentence shows someone using the word leona to describe themselves.
Tatoeba #9808688 by Shishir, translation #9663532 by shekitten
Tras desgarrarla con sus zarpas, la leona se apartó de la presa para dejar que comieran sus crías.
After tearing it open with her claws, the lioness moved away from the kill to let her cubs eat.
This sentence illustrates the use of leona regarding a predator and its cubs.
Tatoeba #1343102 by Shishir, translation #10612128 by sangelo
La leona es una cazadora feroz.
The lioness is a fierce hunter.
He visto una leona en el zoológico.
I have seen a lioness at the zoo.
1 more sentence on Tatoeba

Lucía and Mateo are watching a nature documentary on TV.

Sources

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