el ratón
/el ɾaton/from spelling rules
The English phrase "the animal mouse" is translated into Spanish as el ratón.
This phrase refers to a small rodent characterized by a pointed snout and a long tail.
Which one should you use?
While el ratón is the standard term, you can use el ratón de campo specifically to refer to a field mouse.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun ratón is masculine. The plural form of el ratón is los ratones. If you use the diminutive ratoncito, its plural form is ratoncitos.
How do you pronounce it?
/el ɾaton/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Note that rata is used to refer to a female mouse.
Did you know?
- The word rata is frequently used as a slang term in several Spanish-speaking countries to describe someone who is 'stingy' or 'cheap'.
- Spanish speakers use the phrase ser un ratón de biblioteca to describe a 'bookworm'.
- The word ratón was originally created by adding a suffix to rata to make it smaller. In modern Spanish the suffix -ón usually makes words larger but here it acts as a diminutive.
Examples in context
- El ratón corre rápidamente por el jardín.The mouse runs quickly through the garden.
- El gato caza al ratón.The cat hunts the mouse.
- ¡Mira ese ratoncito tan pequeño!Look at that tiny little mouse!
- Mi hermana tiene miedo de los ratoncitos.My sister is afraid of mice.
- El ratón es muy pequeño.The mouse is very small.
- Vi el ratón en la cocina.I saw the mouse in the kitchen.
- El ratón corre por la casa.The mouse runs through the house.
Example conversation
A living room where a small creature was spotted.
- María¿Viste el ratón, Alejandro?Did you see the mouse, Alejandro?
- AlejandroSí, lo vi bajo el sofá.Yes, I saw it under the sofa.
- MaríaEl ratón es muy rápido.The mouse is very fast.
- AlejandroTengo miedo de ese animal.I am afraid of that animal.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries el, ratón, CC BY-SA 4.0.
