nutria de río
/nutɾja de ɾio/from spelling rules
The English phrase "river otter" is nutria de río in Spanish.
The phrase refers to a semi-aquatic carnivorous mammal that lives and hunts in freshwater rivers. In Argentina and Uruguay, the word nutria may specifically refer to the Coypu or the South American river otter.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of nutria (otter), de (of) and río (river).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina and Uruguay, the term nutria can be used to specifically refer to the Coypu or the South American river otter.
How do you pronounce it?
/nutɾja de ɾio/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word nutria may not have come directly from Classical Latin, but instead arrived via Southern Italian dialects like the Salerno dialect.
Examples in context
- La nutria de río es un animal muy ágil.The river otter is a very agile animal.
- Vi una nutria de río en el lago.I saw a river otter in the lake.
- La nutria de río es muy juguetona.The river otter is very playful.
- Ese animal es una nutria de río.That animal is a river otter.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are looking at a nature documentary on TV.
- Daniel¿Qué es ese animal tan pequeño?What is that small animal?
- ElenaEs una nutria de río, Daniel.It is a river otter, Daniel.
- DanielParece muy rápida en el agua.It looks very fast in the water.
- ElenaSí, son excelentes nadadoras.Yes, they are excellent swimmers.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, nutria, río, CC BY-SA 4.0.
