guacamayo
/ɡwakaˈmaʝo/Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, masculine
The Spanish word for macaw is guacamayo. Wiktionary also lists guacamaya and lapa.
Meaning: various parrots (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| guacamayo | /ɡwakaˈmaʝo/ | Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, masculine |
| guacamaya | /ɡwakaˈmaʝa/ | Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, feminine |
| lapa | /ˈlapa/ | Costa Rica, Nicaragua, feminine |
The term refers to various types of parrots.
Which one should you use?
The form guacamayo is masculine, while guacamaya is feminine. Lapa is a feminine alternative used in specific regions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Guacamaya is used in Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela. In Costa Rica and Nicaragua, the word lapa is used to refer to a macaw. Guacamayo is used in Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay.
How does it change in a sentence?
Guacamayo is the masculine form used in many countries such as Spain, Peru and Argentina.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡwakaˈmaʝo/
Did you know?
- While guacamayo refers to the bird, the word lapa is also the Spanish word for a common type of barnacle, a hard-shelled sea creature.
- The word guacamayo is not of Spanish origin but was borrowed from the Taíno language, which was spoken by indigenous people in the Caribbean.
- In some Caribbean contexts, the term guacamayo is used metaphorically to describe someone who talks excessively or loudly.
Examples in context
- Usted compró un guacamayo.You bought a macaw.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of guacamayo.Tatoeba #13545188 by Seael, translation #2967462 by patgfisher
- El guacamayo es una especie de loro originaria de América Latina.The macaw is a species of parrot native to Latin America.
- El guacamayo tiene plumas rojas.The macaw has red feathers.
- Vi un guacamayo en la selva.I saw a macaw in the jungle.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are at a zoo watching the birds.
- Sofía¿Viste ese guacamayo azul?Did you see that blue macaw?
- JavierSí, es un guacamayo muy grande.Yes, it is a very large macaw.
- SofíaMe encanta su color.I love its color.
- JavierEs realmente hermoso, Sofía.It is really beautiful, Sofia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “macaw” translations and entries guacamayo, guacamaya, lapa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries guacamaya, guacamayo, lapa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
