Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mofeta | /moˈfeta/ | Spain, feminine |
| zorro hediondo | /θoro edjondo/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /soro edjondo/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
Costa Rica, masculine |
| zorrillo | /θoˈriʝo/ | El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, masculine |
| zorrino | /θoˈrino/ /soˈrino/ |
Argentina, masculine |
| chingue | /ˈt͡ʃinɡe/ | Chile |
| yaguané | /ʝaɡwane/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| añás | /aɲas/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| mapuro | /mapuɾo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| yaguré | /ʝaɡuɾe/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
The word refers to the animal known as a skunk. When encountering the unpleasant smell associated with one, people often use the informal interjection ¡Fuchi! to express disgust.
Which one should you use?
While mofeta is common in Spain, zorrillo is the preferred term in Mexico and much of Central America. In Argentina, the term zorrino is typically used for a skunk.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the word 'mofeta' is more commonly used than in other Spanish-speaking countries. In Costa Rica, you may hear zorro hediondo. In El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua, zorrillo is the standard. In Argentina, use zorrino. In Chile, the word chingue is used. Other regional terms include yaguané, añás, mapuro and yaguré.
How does it change in a sentence?
mofeta is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/moˈfeta/
When do people say it?
The interjection ¡Fuchi! is a common way to express disgust toward a bad smell, such as that of a skunk.
Did you know?
- The Spanish word mofeta shares an ancestor with the English word 'mephitic', which describes something having a foul or poisonous smell.
- While mofeta is the standard term in Spain the Americas use a wide variety of distinct words like chingue or mapuro based on local indigenous influences.
Examples in context
- ¡Fuchi! ¡Huele a zorrillo el sótano de la casa de mi tío!Ew! My uncle's basement smells of skunk!This sentence is useful for illustrating how to express disgust at a smell using zorrillo.Tatoeba #3169914 by cueyayotl, translation #4138805 by mervert1
- En el bosque, encontramos un zorrillo con su característico olor.In the forest, we found a skunk with its characteristic odor.
- La mofeta es un mamífero muy conocido por su olor desagradable.The skunk is a mammal well-known for its unpleasant odor.
- El zorrillo borró sus huellas rápidamente.The skunk quickly erased its tracks.
- En mi último viaje, vi una mofeta en los alrededores del bosque.On my last trip, I saw a skunk in the outskirts of the forest.
- ¡Cuidado! Hay un zorrillo en el patio trasero.Be careful! There's a skunk in the backyard.
- Hoy vi una mofeta rayada en el campo.Today, I saw a striped skunk in the countryside.
- Vi una mofeta en el jardín anoche.I saw a skunk in the garden last night.
- Esa mofeta tiene rayas blancas y negras.That skunk has white and black stripes.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are walking in a park at night.
- Sofía¡Mira, Alejandro! Hay una mofeta cerca de los arbustos.Look, Alejandro! There is a skunk near the bushes.
- AlejandroEs muy bonita, pero no te acerques mucho.It is very pretty, but don't get too close.
- SofíaNo quiero que nos rocíe con su olor.I don't want it to spray us with its smell.
- AlejandroTienes razón, mejor sigamos caminando por aquí.You are right, better we keep walking over here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “skunk” translations and entries mofeta, zorrillo, zorrino, chingue, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hediondo, mofeta, zorrillo, zorrino, zorro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
