pájaro
/ˈpaxaɾo/
The Spanish word for bird is pájaro.
pájaro refers to a warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrate animal with feathers and wings.
Which one should you use?
In scientific or scholarly discussions, the term ave is used as a formal way to say bird. Conversely, if you wish to refer to a little bird in a cute and affectionate way, you can use the diminutive pajarillo.
How does it change in a sentence?
pájaro is a masculine noun and is used with the definite article el pájaro. The feminine form is la pájara to refer to a female bird. To express the plural, use pájaros.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpaxaɾo/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone a pájaro can be a way to imply they are a 'shifty' or 'untrustworthy' person, rather than an insult about their intelligence.
- The word pájaro actually traces its roots back to the specific Latin word for a 'sparrow', rather than the general word for any bird.
Examples in context
- Me encanta despertar con el canto de los pájarosI love waking up to the singing of the birds
- Ese pájaro es de color azul.That bird is blue.
- Vi un pájaro muy grande en el parque.I saw a very large bird in the park.
- El pájaro está cantando en la rama.The bird is singing on the branch.
Example conversation
María and Daniel are walking in a park.
- MaríaDaniel, mira aquel pájaro rojo.Daniel, look at that red bird.
- DanielEs muy bonito, ¿qué pájaro es?It is very pretty, what bird is it?
- MaríaNo estoy segura, pero es un pájaro raro.I am not sure, but it is a rare bird.
- DanielVamos a seguir al pájaro con cuidado.Let's follow the bird carefully.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pájaro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pájaro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
