pacú
/paku/from spelling rules
To say pacu in Spanish, use pacú.
pacú names several South American freshwater fish related to the piranha. It is a common food fish in the region.
Meaning: any of several species of South American fishes (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
The name is widely used in Paraguay, Argentina and Bolivia, where the fish is eaten.
How do you pronounce it?
The IPA is /paku/. The written accent shows the stress falls on the last syllable.
Did you know?
- The name pacú originates from the Tupi-Guarani languages of indigenous South Americans, which heavily influenced the Spanish vocabulary of the river basins.
- While many people associate South American river fish with the predatory piranha, the pacú is actually a herbivore that functions more like a 'water cow', feeding on seeds and nuts.
- While pacú is used in Spanish, you will find the same word used in Portuguese in Brazil, as the fish spans the borders of several South American countries.
Examples in context
- El pacú es un pez de río.The pacu is a river fish.
- Vi un pacú muy grande en el acuario.I saw a very large pacu in the aquarium.
- Ese pacú tiene dientes muy fuertes.That pacu has very strong teeth.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are looking at a documentary about the Amazon.
- Elena¿Qué es ese pez, Javier?What is that fish, Javier?
- JavierEs un pacú, Elena.It is a pacu, Elena.
- ElenaNunca había visto un pacú antes.I had never seen a pacu before.
- JavierSon peces muy interesantes de estudiar.They are very interesting fish to study.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
