tecolote
Mexico
In Mexico the owl is a tecolote, from Nahuatl. Across the Spanish language the general word is búho, and a barn owl is a lechuza.
Meaning: night bird of prey (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| tecolote | Mexico |
| Búho | general Spanish |
| Lechuza | barn owl |
You will hear tecolote in the countryside and in songs. Búho is the standard word in books and nature programs.
When do people say it?
In traditional Mexican belief the call of an owl was often taken as a bad omen.
Did you know?
- Tecolote comes from Nahuatl tecolotl, and the word also appears in place names.
Examples in context
- Un tecolote cantaba en la noche.An owl was calling at night.
- El búho caza de noche.The owl hunts at night.
- Vimos una lechuza en el granero.We saw a barn owl in the barn.
Example conversation
Memo and his grandfather Don Chuy sit on a porch in a village in Chiapas.
- MemoAbuelo, ¿oyes ese ruido?Grandpa, do you hear that sound?
- Don ChuyEs un tecolote, hijo.It is an owl, son.
- MemoQué miedo, suena fuerte.How scary, it sounds loud.
