polilla
/poˈliʝa/feminine
The English word 'moth' is translated into Spanish as polilla. Wiktionary also lists taraza.
Meaning: insect similar to a butterfly (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| polilla | /poˈliʝa/ | feminine |
| taraza | /taɾaθa/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /taɾasa/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
The term refers to an insect similar to a butterfly.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word polilla is a feminine noun, while taraza is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/poˈliʝa/
Did you know?
- In some Latin American countries, polilla can be used as a slang term for someone who is very thin or frail, reflecting the delicate nature of the insect.
- The term polilla is sometimes used in carpentry to refer to wood-boring beetles, even though these insects are not moths.
- Depending on the country, if you see a large moth, you might hear it called a mariposa nocturna, which literally translates to 'night butterfly'.
Examples in context
- ¿Es una mariposa o una polilla?Is it a butterfly or a moth?This sentence is useful for distinguishing between a butterfly and a moth using polilla.Tatoeba #10570771 by Seael, translation #42225 by CK
- Uno de los gatitos atrapó una polilla.One of the kittens caught a moth.This sentence describes a kitten catching a moth using polilla.Tatoeba #10570775 by Seael, translation #9764384 by shekitten
- A Yanni lo sobresaltó una polilla gigante.Yanni was startled by a giant moth.This sentence illustrates someone being startled by a giant moth using polilla.Tatoeba #10570774 by Seael, translation #8792615 by Amastan
- El museo tiene una importante colección de polillas raras.The museum has an important collection of rare moths.
- Ayer en el jardín vi una mariposa nocturna muy grande.Yesterday, I saw a very big moth in the garden.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are in the living room at night.
- AlejandroMira, hay una polilla en la lámpara.Look, there is a moth on the lamp.
- María¡Qué asco! Saca esa polilla de aquí.How gross! Get that moth out of here.
- AlejandroNo puedo, la polilla vuela muy rápido.I can't, the moth flies very fast.
- MaríaAbre la ventana para que se vaya.Open the window so it leaves.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “moth” translations and entries polilla, 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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
