cisne
/ˈθisne/masculine
The Spanish word for swan is cisne.
The word cisne refers to a waterfowl of the genus Cygnus.
Meaning: waterfowl of the genus Cygnus (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈθisne/
Did you know?
- In Spanish literature and poetry, the cisne is often used as a symbol of purity and poetic inspiration, particularly during the Modernism movement led by Rubén Darío.
- The word cisne comes from the Greek word kúknos, which entered Spanish via Late Latin and Old French.
- While cisne is the standard term, some regions use the phrase cisne negro not just for the bird, but as a financial term for an unpredictable, high-impact event.
Examples in context
- Este cisne es negro.This swan is black.This sentence is useful for describing the color of a cisne.Tatoeba #2896403 by marcelostockle, translation #2158242 by Hybrid
- Mañana por la mañana ensayaremos "El cascanueces", y por la tarde bailaremos "El lago de los cisnes".Tomorrow morning we will rehearse "The Nutcracker", and in the evening we will dance "Swan Lake".This sentence uses cisne in the context of the ballet "Swan Lake".Tatoeba #10095083 by manufrutos, translation #10094560 by AlanF_US
- Hay un cisne en el agua allí.There is a swan in the water there.This sentence describes the location of a cisne in the water.Tatoeba #1142562 by Arraroak, translation #1142560 by Arraroak
- El lago está habitado por elegantes cisnes.The lake is inhabited by elegant swans.
- ¡Mira ese hermoso pato real nadando en el río!Look at that beautiful swan swimming in the river!
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are walking near a lake in a park.
- DanielMira aquel cisne, Elena.Look at that swan, Elena.
- ElenaEs muy hermoso, Daniel.It is very beautiful, Daniel.
- DanielEl cisne es más grande de lo que pensaba.The swan is larger than I thought.
- ElenaSí, es impresionante verlo de cerca.Yes, it is impressive to see it up close.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “swan” translations and entries cisne, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cisne, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
