perro feo
/pero feo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "ugly dog" is translated into Spanish as perro feo.
This phrase is used to describe a dog that is not pleasant to look at.
Which one should you use?
In Spanish, the adjective feo typically follows the noun perro, whereas in English the adjective precedes the noun.
How does it change in a sentence?
If the dog is female, the phrase changes to the feminine forms perra fea. The plural feminine form is perras feas.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish contexts, calling someone a perro isn't about their looks but can imply they are a 'dog' in the sense of being a flirt or a rogue.
- While feo means 'ugly', Spanish speakers often use the phrase está feo to describe a situation that is 'bad' or 'unpleasant' rather than visually unattractive.
- Originally, perro had a negative or insulting meaning, similar to the English word 'cur', before it became the standard word for dog.
Examples in context
- ¡Qué perro poco agraciado tiene tu vecino!Your neighbor has such an unattractive dog!
- Ese perro feo vive en la calle.That ugly dog lives on the street.
- No quiero un perro feo en mi casa.I do not want an ugly dog in my house.
- Vi un perro feo en el parque hoy.I saw an ugly dog in the park today.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are walking in a park.
- Lucía¡Qué perro feo!What an ugly dog!
- MateoNo seas mala, Lucía.Don't be mean, Lucía.
- LucíaPero es un perro feo.But it is an ugly dog.
- MateoA mí me parece lindo.I think it is cute.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries feo, perro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
