cochinilla
/kot͡ʃiniʝa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "roly poly" is translated into Spanish as cochinilla.
cochinilla refers to a small, gray, armored land crustacean that curls into a ball when touched.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase cochinilla de humedad is a common alternative name for the roly poly in many Spanish-speaking regions and is used to mean "woodlouse".
How do you pronounce it?
/kotʃiniʝa/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, cochinilla can refer to both the roly poly and a type of scale insect used to produce red dye.
- The word cochinilla is a diminutive of cochina, meaning 'female pig', because the creature's curled shape resembles a small swine.
- In some regions, cochinilla is used as a colloquial term to describe a person who is very messy or dirty.
Examples in context
- ¡Mira, encontré una bolita de tierra! Son tan curiosas y graciosas. ¿Sabías que se enrollan para protegerse?Look, I found a roly poly! They are so curious and funny. Did you know they roll up to protect themselves?
- La cochinilla se enrolla en una bola.The roly poly curls into a ball.
- Hay una cochinilla en la maceta.There is a roly poly in the flowerpot.
- La cochinilla se enrolla al tocarla.The roly poly curls up when you touch it.
- Mira esa pequeña cochinilla gris.Look at that little gray roly poly.
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are looking at the garden plants.
- Sofía¿Qué es eso que se mueve?What is that moving?
- DanielEs una cochinilla, Sofía.It's a roly poly, Sofía.
- Sofía¡Es muy pequeña!It's so small!
- DanielSí, pero es muy curiosa.Yes, but it 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.
