mula
/ˈmula/feminine
The Spanish word for mule is mula. Wiktionary also lists mulo and acémila.
Meaning: offspring of male donkey and female horse (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mula | /ˈmula/ | feminine |
| mulo | /ˈmulo/ | masculine |
| acémila | /aˈθemila/ /aˈsemila/ |
feminine |
The term refers to the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse.
Which one should you use?
mula is the standard term for the species, while acémila refers specifically to a pack animal or a beast of burden used for carrying loads.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form mulo is used when referring to a male mule or when using the word in a generic sense for a group of mules. The feminine form mula is used when referring to a female mule or as the standard generic noun for the species.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmula/
Did you know?
- The word mula is used in Spanish slang to describe a person who smuggles drugs inside their body.
- The word acémila is not originally Latin but was borrowed from the Arabic word az-zāmila, meaning 'beast of burden'.
- The phrase como mula is often used in Spanish to describe someone who is exceptionally strong or has a huge appetite.
Examples in context
- Esta mula no puede ir más cargada.This mule can't carry a heavier load.This sentence is useful for showing how to describe the carrying capacity of a mula.Tatoeba #2410338 by Shishir, translation #2259709 by _undertoad
- Por la carretera iba un carro de mulas.There was a mule cart on the road.This sentence is useful for describing a vehicle pulled by mula.Tatoeba #2259490 by cueyayotl, translation #2259489 by _undertoad
- Una mula es un cruce entre un burro y una yegua.A mule is a cross between a male donkey and a female horse.This sentence is useful for explaining the biological definition of a mula.Tatoeba #10097398 by manufrutos, translation #10097340 by shekitten
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a farm in the countryside.
- JavierMira esa mula joven.Look at that young mule.
- SofíaEs una mula muy fuerte.She is a very strong mule.
- JavierSofía, ¿podemos usarla para el trabajo?Sofía, can we use her for work?
- SofíaSí, es perfecta para esto.Yes, she is perfect for this.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mule” translations and entries mula, mulo, acémila, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries acémila, mula, mulo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
