cochinilla
/kot͡ʃiniʝa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "rollie pollie" is cochinilla in Spanish.
cochinilla refers to the small crustacean that rolls into a ball when touched.
Which one should you use?
You may also encounter the informal expression Bichito bolita.
How do you pronounce it?
/kotʃiniʝa/
Did you know?
- The word cochinilla may be related to the Latin word coccinus, which means 'scarlet'.
- While cochinilla refers to the rollie pollie, the same word is also used in Spanish to describe the cochineal insect used to make red dye.
- The term cochinilla can be used in some dialects to describe a small, annoying person or a 'pest'.
Examples in context
- Cuidado con ese bichito bolita, ¡se enrolla en una bolita!Be careful with that rollie pollie, it rolls up into a ball!
- Mira esa pequeña cochinilla en la hoja.Look at that little rollie pollie on the leaf.
- La cochinilla se hace una bolita.The rollie pollie turns into a little ball.
- Hay una cochinilla debajo de la piedra.There is a rollie pollie under the rock.
Example conversation
María and Javier are looking at a plant in the yard.
- MaríaJavier, mira esta cochinilla.Javier, look at this rollie pollie.
- Javier¡Qué pequeña es!It is so small!
- MaríaSe enrolló porque la toqué.It rolled up because I touched it.
- JavierEs muy curiosa la cochinilla.The rollie pollie is very curious.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cochinilla, CC BY-SA 4.0.
