patas palmeadas
/patas palmeadas/from spelling rules
The English phrase "webbed feet" is translated into Spanish as patas palmeadas.
This phrase refers to feet with skin connecting the toes, a feature typically found on animals such as ducks or frogs.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of patas, which refers to the feet or legs of an animal and palmeadas, meaning webbed or shaped like a palm.
Which one should you use?
In Spanish, it is important to use patas when referring to the feet of animals. The word pies is used specifically for human feet.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of this phrase is pata palmeada.
How do you pronounce it?
/patas palmeadas/
Did you know?
- While patas palmeadas is the technical term, the word palmeada also means a 'pat on the back' or a 'slap' in common conversation.
- Because patas is used for any animal limb, a Spanish speaker uses the same word for a duck's webbed foot as they do for an elephant's leg or a table leg.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, if you describe a person as having patas instead of pies, you are not just being inaccurate, you are suggesting they are clumsy or beastly.
Examples in context
- Los patos tienen patas palmeadas para nadar eficientemente.Ducks have webbed feet to swim efficiently.
- El ornitólogo estudia las aves acuáticas y sus patas palmeadas.The ornithologist studies waterfowl and their webbed feet.
- El pato tiene las patas palmeadas para nadar mejor.The duck has webbed feet to swim better.
- Los patos tienen patas palmeadas.Ducks have webbed feet.
- Esas ranas tienen patas palmeadas para nadar.Those frogs have webbed feet for swimming.
- Observa las patas palmeadas de ese ave.Look at the webbed feet of that bird.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are looking at animals in a zoo.
- Daniel¿Viste las patas palmeadas del pato?Did you see the duck's webbed feet?
- LucíaSí, Daniel, son muy grandes.Yes, Daniel, they are very large.
- DanielLe ayudan a nadar muy rápido.They help him swim very fast.
- LucíaEs una característica muy útil.It is a very useful characteristic.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
