tortolitos
/toɾtolitos/from spelling rules
The English phrase "love birds" is translated into Spanish as tortolitos.
The term tortolitos is used to describe a couple that is visibly very affectionate or constantly inseparable.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Tortolitos is an informal term that often carries a slightly teasing or playful tone when used by friends or family. Another informal way to express this concept is Pajaritos enamorados.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form is tortolito, though the plural tortolitos is much more common when referring to a couple.
How do you pronounce it?
/toɾtolitos/
Did you know?
- In traditional Spanish poetry, the tórtola was often used as a symbol of mourning or longing for a lost love, creating a sharp contrast with the modern, playful use of tortolitos.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, calling a couple tortolitos can be used ironically to tease people who are arguing or fighting, acting as a sarcastic comment on their lack of harmony.
- While tortolitos refers to 'love birds', the root word tórtola is specifically the Spanish name for the European turtle dove, a bird long associated with fidelity in Mediterranean folklore.
Examples in context
- ¿Viste a esos pajaritos enamorados en el jardín? Son tan lindos juntos, como si fueran pichones de amor.Did you see those love birds in the garden? They are so cute together, like they were love chicks.
- ¡Miren a esos tortolitos!Look at those love birds!
- Esos dos son unos tortolitos.Those two are such love birds.
- Míralos, parecen unos tortolitos.Look at them, they look like love birds.
- No dejen de ser unos tortolitos.Don't stop being such love birds.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are watching a young couple at a cafe.
- AlejandroMira a esa pareja, son unos tortolitos.Look at that couple, they are love birds.
- LucíaSí, son muy cariñosos.Yes, they are very affectionate.
- AlejandroLucía, tú y yo también somos unos tortolitos.Lucía, you and I are love birds too.
- Lucía¡Ay, qué romántico eres!Oh, you are so romantic!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
