Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cerdo | /ˈθeɾdo/ /ˈseɾdo/ |
masculine |
| chancho | /ˈt͡ʃant͡ʃo/ | Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, masculine |
| coche | /ˈkot͡ʃe/ | Guatemala, masculine |
| cochi | /kot͡ʃi/ (from spelling rules) | Mexico, Northwestern, masculine |
| cochín | /koˈt͡ʃin/ | Aragon, Northern, Spain, masculine |
| cochino | /koˈt͡ʃino/ | Canary Islands, Mexico, Southwestern, Spain, masculine |
| cocho | /ˈkot͡ʃo/ | Northern, Spain, masculine |
| cuchi | /ˈkut͡ʃi/ | Central, Northern, Northwestern Argentina, masculine |
| gocho | /ɡot͡ʃo/ (from spelling rules) | Northern, Spain, masculine |
| gorrino | /ɡoˈrino/ | Central, Eastern, Southern, Spain, masculine |
| guarro | /ˈɡwaro/ | Spain, Western, masculine |
| marrano | /maˈrano/ | Central, Colombia, Venezuela, Western, masculine |
| puerco | /ˈpweɾko/ | Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, masculine |
| tocino | /toˈθino/ /toˈsino/ |
Aragon, Northern, Spain, masculine |
| tunco | /ˈtunko/ | El Salvador, masculine |
| pitzote | /pitθote/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /pitsote/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| cuche | /ˈkut͡ʃe/ | masculine |
The term cerdo is the most standard and neutral way to refer to the mammal in most Spanish-speaking contexts. While it is the standard term, some other forms like puerco often carry a stronger connotation of being 'filthy' or 'disgusting' when used to describe a person's behavior. For example, puerco is often used informally to describe someone who is dirty or behaves in a gluttonous manner.
Which one should you use?
While cerdo is the standard term, puerco is an informal alternative that emphasizes being filthy or disgusting when describing people. In certain contexts, specifically in Aragon and Northern Spain, cochín and tocino are used to refer specifically to a pig.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Many regional variations exist for 'pig' in Spanish. In Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, chancho is used. In Guatemala, coche is used. In Mexico, you may hear cochi in the Northwest or cochino in the Southwest. In Northern Spain, you may hear cocho or gocho, while in Aragon and Northern Spain, cochín and tocino are specific terms. In the Canary Islands and Mexico, cochino is used. In Central, Eastern and Southern Spain, gorrino is used. In Western Spain, guarro is used. In Central and Western Colombia and Venezuela, marrano is used. In Costa Rica, Mexico and Panama, puerco is used. In El Salvador, tunco is used. In Northern Honduras, cuche is an informal term. In Central, Northern and Northwestern Argentina, cuchi is used. The form pitzote is also a masculine term for a pig.
How does it change in a sentence?
All the forms provided are masculine nouns. If you need to specify the gender of the animal, use cerda for a sow, verraco for a boar or lechón for a piglet.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈθeɾdo/
Did you know?
- The word marrano has a heavy historical weight, as it was used in Spain as a derogatory term for Jewish people who converted to Christianity.
- The word coche is used for 'pig' in Guatemala, but it is also the standard Spanish word for 'car'.
- The term chancho is thought to have evolved from the name 'Sancho', a common name used to refer to pigs in certain traditions.
Examples in context
- No sea un cerdo.Don't be a pig.This sentence is useful for telling someone not to act like a pig using cerdo.Tatoeba #4438159 by ponisio7, translation #2270296 by CK
- Comía como un cerdo.I used to eat like a pig.This sentence is useful for describing eating habits using cerdo.Tatoeba #3800069 by Seael, translation #1724649 by CM
- Él come como un puerco.He eats like a pig.This sentence is useful for describing eating habits using puerco.Tatoeba #4349746 by cueyayotl, translation #2980304 by pne
- El cerdo es un animal doméstico común en Honduras.The pig is a common domestic animal in Honduras.
- Los agricultores criaron un puerco para la próxima temporada.The farmers raised a pig for the upcoming season.
- Vamos a asar un marrano este fin de semana.Let's roast a pig this weekend.
- ¡Qué cuche tan grande tienen en su granja!What a big pig you have on your farm!
- 36 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are visiting a farm together.
- DanielMira ese cerdo tan grande.Look at that big pig.
- SofíaSí, es muy lindo y rosado.Yes, it is very cute and pink.
- Daniel¿Crees que el cerdo tenga hambre?Do you think the pig is hungry?
- SofíaSeguramente, vamos a darle comida.Surely, let's give it some food.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pig” translations and entries cerdo, chancho, coche, cochín, cochino, cocho, cuchi, gocho, gorrino, guarro, marrano, puerco, tocino, tunco, cuche, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cerdo, chancho, coche, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
