sinsonte
/sinˈsonte/masculine, alternative form
The English word 'mockingbird' is translated into Spanish as sinsonte. Wiktionary also lists cenzontle and (tropical mockingbird, Mimus gilvus) paraulata.
Meaning: songbird of the genera Mimus and Melanotis (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sinsonte | /sinˈsonte/ | masculine, alternative form |
| cenzontle | /θenˈθontle/ /senˈsontle/ |
masculine |
| (tropical mockingbird, Mimus gilvus) paraulata | feminine | |
| chuchube | /t͡ʃut͡ʃube/ (from spelling rules) | Northwestern, Venezuela, masculine |
| chulinga | /t͡ʃulinɡa/ (from spelling rules) | Northeastern, Venezuela, feminine |
| mulato | /muˈlato/ | masculine |
The terms refer to songbirds belonging to the genera Mimus and Melanotis.
Which one should you use?
While sinsonte is a standard term, cenzontle is a common alternative often appearing in poetic or traditional contexts. In specific biological contexts, paraulata refers specifically to the tropical mockingbird (Mimus gilvus).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Venezuela, regional variations exist: chuchube is used in the Northwestern part of the country, while chulinga is used in the Northeastern part. chuchube and chulinga have different genders, as chuchube is masculine and chulinga is feminine.
How does it change in a sentence?
cenzontle, sinsonte, chuchube and mulato are masculine nouns, while paraulata and chulinga are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/sinˈsonte/
Did you know?
- The word mulato is used for a type of mockingbird in some regions, which is the same word used to describe a person of mixed African and European descent.
- The word cenzontle comes from a Nahuatl term that literally means 'possessor of four hundred words'.
- In Mexico, the cenzontle is often regarded as the 'bird of the poets' and appears frequently in traditional folklore.
Examples in context
- El sinsonte imita varios sonidos diferentes.The mockingbird imitates several different sounds.
- El sinsonte canta en el jardín.The mockingbird sings in the garden.
- Vi un sinsonte en el parque ayer.I saw a mockingbird in the park yesterday.
- Ese sinsonte tiene un color muy bonito.That mockingbird has a very beautiful color.
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are birdwatching in a forest.
- SofíaMira, Daniel, hay un sinsonte en esa rama.Look, Daniel, there is a mockingbird on that branch.
- DanielEs verdad, es un sinsonte muy elegante.It's true, it is a very elegant mockingbird.
- Sofía¿Puedes oír cómo canta el sinsonte?Can you hear how the mockingbird sings?
- DanielSí, su canto es impresionante.Yes, its song is impressive.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mockingbird” translations and entries sinsonte, cenzontle, mulato, 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 cenzontle, CC BY-SA 4.0.
