tortuga
neutral
A turtle in Spanish is tortuga. In Cuba a freshwater turtle is often called jicotea.
Meaning: shelled reptile (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| tortuga | neutral |
| jicotea | Cuba, freshwater turtle |
Tortuga is the general word for turtles and tortoises. Use it for sea turtles, as in tortuga marina.
Which one should you use?
Jicotea is a typical Cuban word for a freshwater turtle found in ponds and rivers.
Is it said differently in some regions?
People in Cuba use jicotea for the local pond turtle and tortuga for turtles in general.
Did you know?
- Jicotea is a word from the Taíno language, spoken in the Caribbean before Spanish arrived.
Examples in context
- Vi una tortuga en la playa.I saw a turtle on the beach.
- La jicotea vive en el río.The freshwater turtle lives in the river.
- Las tortugas marinas ponen huevos en la arena.Sea turtles lay eggs in the sand.
Example conversation
Biologist Leonor shows a freshwater turtle to a boy, Andy, near a pond in Cuba.
- Andy¿Qué animal es ese?What animal is that?
- LeonorEs una jicotea.It is a freshwater turtle.
- AndyQué lenta es.How slow it is.
