cola que se menea
/kola ke se menea/from spelling rules
The English phrase "waggy tail" is translated into Spanish as cola que se menea.
This phrase describes the tail of a dog that moves quickly from side to side, typically as a sign of happiness.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of cola (tail), que (that), se (a reflexive pronoun) and menea (moves or shakes).
How do you pronounce it?
/kola ke se menea/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, cola can be a slang term for a person's buttocks, making the phrase potentially ambiguous in very informal settings.
- The word cola is a homonym with three completely different origins. It can refer to a dog's tail, a strong adhesive glue or the nut of the cola tree.
- The verb menear is often used in Spanish idioms to describe dancing or shaking the hips, not just the movement of an animal's tail.
Examples in context
- El perro tiene una cola que se menea.The dog has a waggy tail.
- Esa cola que se menea indica que está feliz.That waggy tail indicates that he is happy.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are watching a dog at the park.
- DanielMira ese perro, tiene una cola que se menea.Look at that dog, he has a waggy tail.
- SofíaEs muy tierno, Daniel.He is very cute, Daniel.
- DanielSeguro está muy contento de vernos.He is surely very happy to see us.
- SofíaSí, se le nota mucho la alegría.Yes, you can really tell he is joyful.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cola, menea, que, se, CC BY-SA 4.0.
