rata de alcantarilla
/rata de alkantaɾiʝa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "sewer rat" is translated into Spanish as rata de alcantarilla.
This noun refers to any rat that lives in sewers.
Meaning: any rat that lives in sewers (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of rata (rat), de (of) and alcantarilla (sewer).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Latin America, including Mexico and some Central American countries, the term rata de coladera is used for sewer rat.
How do you pronounce it?
/rata de alkantaɾiʝa/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone a rata is a common way to describe a stingy person or a thief, regardless of whether they live in a sewer.
- The term alcantarilla is actually a diminutive of the Old Spanish word alcántara, which traces its roots back to the Arabic word for 'bridge' or 'arch'.
- The word alcantarilla contains a diminutive suffix, -illa, which suggests a 'little' sewer, even though the term is used for large-scale infrastructure.
Examples in context
- ¿Ves un búho comiendo una deliciosa rata de alcantarilla por allí? Ese soy yo.Can you see an owl eating a delicious sewer rat over there? That's me.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use rata de alcantarilla in a sentence.Tatoeba #1283191 by marcelostockle, translation #1283194 by marcelostockle
- Vi una rata de alcantarilla en el callejón.I saw a sewer rat in the alley.
- Esa rata de alcantarilla es muy grande.That sewer rat is very big.
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are walking through a dark street at night.
- Lucía¿Viste eso moverse en la oscuridad?Did you see that move in the dark?
- DanielSí, parece una rata de alcantarilla.Yes, it looks like a sewer rat.
- LucíaDaniel, me da mucho miedo.Daniel, I am very scared.
- DanielNo te preocupes, Lucía, ya pasamos.Don't worry, Lucía, we already passed it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alcantarilla, de, rata, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
