paloma
/paˈloma/feminine
The English word pigeon is translated into Spanish as paloma. Wiktionary also lists palomo and urpila.
Meaning: bird of the dove and pigeon family Columbidae (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| paloma | /paˈloma/ | feminine |
| palomo | /paˈlomo/ | masculine |
| urpila | /uɾpila/ (from spelling rules) | Argentina, feminine |
| urpilla | /uɾpiʝa/ (from spelling rules) | Argentina, feminine |
| cuculí | /kukuˈli/ | masculine |
| torcacita | /toɾkaθita/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /toɾkasita/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| ulincha | /ulint͡ʃa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| urlincha | /uɾlint͡ʃa/ (from spelling rules) | Argentina, feminine |
| untucuru | /untukuɾu/ (from spelling rules) | Bolivia, masculine |
| tórtola | /ˈtoɾtola/ | feminine |
| guarumera | /ɡwaɾumeɾa/ (from spelling rules) | Colombia, feminine |
| sisella | /siseʝa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
The term refers to birds of the dove and pigeon family Columbidae.
Which one should you use?
paloma is the general term used for both pigeon and dove. If you want to specifically refer to a male pigeon, use palomo. The term tórtola is used to specifically refer to a dove or turtle dove, which is often smaller than a standard paloma.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, you may encounter the variations urpila or urpilla. In Bolivia, the term untucuru is used. In Colombia, you might hear guarumera. The term urlincha is also used in Argentina, as well as the term ulincha. Other specific terms include cuculí, torcacita and sisella.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form palomo refers specifically to a male pigeon.
How do you pronounce it?
/paˈloma/
Did you know?
- Depending on the region, a paloma can refer to a specific type of traditional cocktail made with tequila and grapefruit soda.
- In Spanish, calling someone a palomo can be a slang way to describe a person who is naive or easily fooled.
- The word palomo shares an ancient root with the Proto-Indo-European word *pal-wo-, which means 'dark-colored' or 'gray'.
Examples in context
- La paloma está zureando en el balcón.The pigeon is cooing on the balcony.This sentence illustrates the use of paloma when describing a bird's behavior.Tatoeba #10481665 by Seael, translation #1798376 by Amastan
- ¿Alguna vez has visto una paloma bebé?Have you ever seen a baby pigeon?This sentence shows how to use paloma when referring to a young bird.Tatoeba #4387884 by pchamorro, translation #2782353 by CK
- Mi coche está cubierto de caca de paloma.My car is covered with pigeon poop.This sentence uses paloma in a common context involving bird droppings.Tatoeba #1543410 by hayastan, translation #1540535 by Chevere33
- La paloma está volando en el cielo.The pigeon is flying in the sky.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and María are walking through a city square.
- JavierMira esa paloma blanca allá.Look at that white pigeon over there.
- MaríaEs muy bonita, pero no la toques.It is very pretty, but do not touch it.
- Javier¿Tengo que darle comida a la paloma?Do I have to give the pigeon food?
- MaríaNo, Javier, no es bueno alimentarlas.No, Javier, it is not good to feed them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pigeon” translations and entries paloma, palomo, cuculí, torcacita, tórtola, 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 paloma, palomo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
