How to Say "Seals" in Spanish

focas

/fokas/from spelling rules

The English phrase seals is translated into Spanish as focas.

How do you pronounce it?

/fokas/

In some Latin American cultures, the phrase está como una foca can be used colloquially to describe someone who is very plump or round.
In some Spanish-speaking coastal regions, people might use the word lobos marinos to refer to certain large species of seals, or 'sea wolves'.
In Spanish, unlike in English, the word focas is strictly for the animal and cannot be used to mean a 'seal' in the sense of a wax stamp or a security seal.

Los osos polares cazan focas.
Polar bears hunt seals.
This sentence shows how polar bears hunt focas.
Tatoeba #6864208 by albrusgher, translation #6119987 by Hybrid
¡Me gustan las focas!
I like seals!
This sentence expresses a preference for focas.
Tatoeba #12250898 by opalandwoof, translation #12250899 by opalandwoof
El hábitat de las focas suelen ser las zonas de costa.
The habitat of seals is typically coastal areas.
This sentence describes the typical habitat of focas.
Tatoeba #13906911 by opalandwoof, translation #13906913 by opalandwoof
El acuario tiene una exhibición de focas maravillosas.
The aquarium has a wonderful seal exhibit.
Las focas marinas son animales muy curiosos y sociales.
Seals are very curious and social animals.
Vamos a la playa para ver los lobos marinos.
Let's go to the beach to see the seals/sea lions.
Ayer vi a unos leones marinos nadando cerca del muelle.
Yesterday, I saw some sea lions swimming near the pier.
La expedición científica está estudiando las focas antárticas en la Isla Decepción.
The scientific expedition is studying the Antarctic seals on Deception Island.
1 more sentence on Tatoeba

Javier and Sofía are watching a nature documentary on TV.

Javier

Mira, hay muchas focas en esa roca.
Look, there are many seals on that rock.
Sofía

Son muy lindas las focas.
The seals are very cute.
Javier

Sí, las focas nadan muy rápido.
Yes, seals swim very fast.
Sofía

Me encanta verlas descansar en el hielo.
I love watching them rest on the ice.

Sources

IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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