renacuajo
/renaˈkwaxo/masculine
The English word tadpole is translated into Spanish as renacuajo. Wiktionary also lists ranacuajo and ajolote.
Meaning: toad or frog larva (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| renacuajo | /renaˈkwaxo/ | masculine |
| ranacuajo | /ranaˈkwaxo/ | masculine |
| ajolote | /axoˈlote/ | Mexico |
| atepocate | /atepoˈkate/ | Mexico |
The term refers to the larva of a toad or a frog.
Which one should you use?
renacuajo is the standard term, while ranacuajo is an archaic form. In Mexico, ajolote specifically refers to the axolotl, a type of salamander that is often colloquially associated with the larval stage of amphibians.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, ajolote is used to refer to the axolotl. In Andalusia, the colloquial term tolla is used to mean tadpole. Also in Mexico, the term atepocate is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of renacuajo is renacuajos.
How do you pronounce it?
/renaˈkwaxo/
Did you know?
- In Mexican culture, the ajolote is not just a larval amphibian but a national symbol of endurance and regeneration.
- The word renacuajo is actually a double diminutive, meaning it has two layers of suffixes added to the word for frog, rana, to emphasize its small size.
Examples in context
- Cuando el renacuajo crece le desaparece la cola y le nacen patas.As the tadpole grows, its tail disappears and it sprouts legs.This sentence shows how a renacuajo grows by losing its tail and sprouting legs.Tatoeba #1682584 by termito2nd, translation #10616111 by sangelo
- En el estanque del parque, podemos encontrar renacuajos nadando.In the park pond, we can find tadpoles swimming.
- Los renacuajitos son muy graciosos, ¿no crees?Tadpoles are very cute, don't you think?
- En el charco de la laguna descubrimos unos renacuajos muy pequeños.We discovered some very small tadpoles in the pond.
- Vimos un renacuajo en el estanque.We saw a tadpole in the pond.
- El pequeño renacuajo nada muy rápido.The little tadpole swims very fast.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are looking at a small pond in a park.
- Alejandro¿Viste ese renacuajo en el agua?Did you see that tadpole in the water?
- LucíaSí, es muy pequeño, Alejandro.Yes, it is very small, Alejandro.
- AlejandroParece que está buscando comida.It looks like it is looking for food.
- LucíaEs fascinante ver cómo se mueve.It is fascinating to see how it moves.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tadpole” translations and entries renacuajo, ranacuajo, ajolote, atepocate, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ajolote, atepocate, ranacuajo, renacuajo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
