rata gorda y fea
/rata ɡoɾda i fea/from spelling rules
The English phrase "ugly fat rat" is translated into Spanish as rata gorda y fea.
This is an insulting phrase used to describe a person or an animal as being both unattractive and overweight.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of rata (rat), gorda (fat) and fea (ugly), connected by the conjunction y (and).
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, the adjectives gorda and fea follow the noun rata they describe. To make the phrase plural, you must change both the noun and the adjectives to their plural forms: ratas gordas y feas. Because rata is a feminine noun, the adjectives must also be in the feminine form. Using masculine forms would be grammatically incorrect.
How do you pronounce it?
/rata ɡoɾda i fea/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use the masculine forms rata gordo y feo because rata is a feminine noun. The adjectives must match the noun's gender.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, describing a person as a rata can imply much more than just looking like a rodent. It is a common way to call someone a 'snitch' or a 'traitor' in many Spanish-speaking countries.
- While the word rata refers to the common rodent, it also shares a root with the Latin word rāta, meaning 'established' or 'certain'. This makes the word a distant linguistic relative of the English word 'rate'.
- In various Spanish dialects, the term rata can be used as a playful or ironic nickname among very close friends, transforming the insult into a term of endearment.
Examples in context
- ¡Aunque es una rata fea y gorda, seguro tiene una personalidad encantadora!Although it's an ugly fat rat, it surely has a charming personality!
- Esa rata gorda y fea se escapó.That ugly fat rat escaped.
- No quiero ver a esa rata gorda y fea.I don't want to see that ugly fat rat.
- Parece una rata gorda y fea en la basura.It looks like an ugly fat rat in the trash.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are looking at a pest in the kitchen.
- Daniel¿Viste esa rata gorda y fea?Did you see that ugly fat rat?
- ElenaSí, es enorme y muy fea.Yes, it is huge and very ugly.
- DanielTengo mucho miedo de ella.I am very afraid of it.
- ElenaNo te preocupes, Daniel.Don't worry, Daniel.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rata, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
