mochuelo europeo
/mot͡ʃwelo euɾopeo/from spelling rulesmasculine
The English phrase "little owl" is translated into Spanish as mochuelo europeo. Wiktionary also lists mochuelo común.
Meaning: species of owl (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mochuelo europeo | /mot͡ʃwelo euɾopeo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| mochuelo común | /mot͡ʃwelo komun/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
Both provided terms refer to the species of owl known as the little owl.
Which one should you use?
mochuelo europeo and mochuelo común are both masculine nouns used to refer to this species of owl.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the informal term tecolotito is used to refer to a small owl.
How do you pronounce it?
/motʃwelo euɾopeo/
Did you know?
- In Mexico, the word tecolotito comes from tecolotl, a word borrowed from the Nahuatl language spoken by the Aztecs.
- The word mochuelo is derived from mocho, which means 'maimed' or 'truncated'. This refers to the owl's short tail, giving it a clipped appearance.
- In some rural Spanish folklore, the call of the mochuelo is traditionally viewed as a warning or an omen of bad luck.
Examples in context
- El mochuelo europeo es muy pequeño.The little owl is very small.
- He visto un mochuelo europeo en el jardín.I saw a little owl in the garden.
- ¿Es este un mochuelo europeo?Is this a little owl?
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are walking through a nature reserve.
- LucíaMira, ¡un mochuelo europeo en esa rama!Look, a little owl on that branch!
- MateoEs un mochuelo europeo muy bonito, Lucía.It is a very pretty little owl, Lucía.
- Lucía¿Crees que está cazando?Do you think it is hunting?
- MateoSí, parece que está buscando comida.Yes, it looks like it is looking for food.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “little owl” translations, 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 común, europeo, mochuelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
