búho
neutral
An owl in Spanish is búho or lechuza. In Cuba there is also sijú, the name of a small native owl.
Meaning: night bird of prey (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| búho | neutral |
| lechuza | barn owl, Cuba |
| sijú | Cuba, small owl |
Búho is the general word for owl. Lechuza usually names the barn owl and is very common in everyday talk.
Which one should you use?
Sijú is a Cuban word for a small owl that lives on the island. It is a name for a specific bird and not a general word.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Many people in Cuba say lechuza when they speak about an owl in daily life.
Did you know?
- The sijú is a small owl found in Cuba, and the word is used for that local bird.
Examples in context
- Vi un búho en el árbol.I saw an owl in the tree.
- La lechuza canta de noche.The owl calls at night.
- El sijú es un ave de Cuba.The sijú is a bird from Cuba.
Example conversation
Dr. Vidal shows a photo of an owl to a student, Marta, on a field trip in Cuba.
- Marta¿Qué ave es esa?What bird is that?
- VidalEs un búho, sale de noche.It is an owl, it comes out at night.
- MartaQué bonito.How beautiful.
