borrego
Mexico, everyday
In Mexico "sheep" is most often borrego. The word oveja is also correct and refers to the female sheep or to sheep in general.
Meaning: woolly farm animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| borrego | Mexico, everyday |
| oveja | neutral |
Borrego is the word you hear on farms and in food, as in barbacoa de borrego. Oveja is common in stories and songs, like la oveja negra.
Which one should you use?
Borrego is male or a young sheep in many places and in Mexican speech it is the everyday word for the animal. Oveja sounds a bit more standard.
When do people say it?
Oveja negra is used in Mexico for the black sheep of the family, the member who does not fit in.
Did you know?
- In central Mexico, especially Hidalgo, lamb barbacoa cooked in an underground pit is a classic Sunday meal.
Examples in context
- Los borregos están en el cerro.The sheep are on the hill.
- Pedimos barbacoa de borrego.We ordered sheep barbacoa.
- Él es la oveja negra de la familia.He is the black sheep of the family.
Example conversation
Beto shows his daughter Lupita the flock at his uncle's ranch in Hidalgo.
- BetoMira, Lupita, esos son los borregos.Look, Lupita, those are the sheep.
- LupitaQué chiquitos, papá.How tiny, Dad.
- BetoSon corderos. Todavía son bebés.They are lambs. They are still babies.
