tiburón
/tibuˈɾon/masculine
The English word "shark" is translated into Spanish as tiburón. Wiktionary also lists escualo.
Meaning: fish (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tiburón | /tibuˈɾon/ | masculine |
| escualo | /esˈkwalo/ | masculine |
Both tiburón and escualo are masculine nouns used to refer to the predatory fish known as a shark.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regions of Spain, particularly Andalusia, the word cazón is used to refer to a small type of shark known as a dogfish.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of tiburón is tiburones.
How do you pronounce it?
/tibuˈɾon/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, calling someone a tiburón can describe a person who is aggressive and opportunistic in business or social climbing.
- The word tiburón is likely connected to the word tiburo from Taíno, a language spoken by the indigenous people of the Caribbean.
- In parts of Spain, you might see cazón on a menu, which is a type of shark often eaten as a fried snack.
Examples in context
- Le atacó un tiburón.He was attacked by a shark.This sentence is useful for describing an attack by a tiburón.Tatoeba #1168606 by Shishir, translation #1168378 by Scott
- El pez martillo es un tipo de tiburón.The hammerhead is a type of shark.This sentence is useful for identifying a hammerhead as a type of tiburón.Tatoeba #10333104 by Seael, translation #12890772 by araneo
- -Hay un tiburón en el agua -susurró ella."There's a shark in the water," she whispered.This sentence is useful for reporting the presence of a tiburón in the water.Tatoeba #1251404 by Shishir, translation #911994 by U2FS
- Los tiburones son criaturas fascinantesSharks are fascinating creatures.
- Ayer fui a bucear y vi un impresionante tiburón blanco.Yesterday, I went diving and saw an impressive great white shark.
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are watching a nature documentary together.
- MateoMira, ese tiburón es enorme.Look, that shark is huge.
- ElenaSí, es un tiburón muy impresionante.Yes, it is a very impressive shark.
- MateoMe dan miedo los tiburones.Sharks scare me.
- ElenaNo te preocupes, Mateo, es solo un documental.Don't worry, Mateo, it's just a documentary.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shark” translations and entries tiburón, escualo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries escualo, tiburón, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
