zoológico
standard
In Mexican Spanish a zoo is zoológico. People often shorten it to zoo, but zoológico is the word on signs and in conversation.
Meaning: park where animals are kept and shown (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| zoológico | standard |
| zoo | short form |
How does it change in a sentence?
Zoológico is masculine: el zoológico. You say ir al zoológico for "to go to the zoo".
How do you pronounce it?
Say zoológico as "soh-oh-LOH-hee-koh". Mexicans pronounce the z like an English s, so the word begins with an s sound.
When do people say it?
Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City is one of the best known zoos in the country, and many families visit on weekends.
Did you know?
- The word zoológico is a combination of Greek roots meaning "of animals", and it is shortened to zoo in everyday speech.
Examples in context
- Vamos al zoológico el domingo.We are going to the zoo on Sunday.
- Los niños quieren ver los leones en el zoo.The kids want to see the lions at the zoo.
- El zoológico abre a las nueve.The zoo opens at nine.
Example conversation
Father Gerardo asks his daughter Renata where she wants to go this weekend.
- GerardoRenata, ¿adónde quieres ir el sábado?Renata, where do you want to go on Saturday?
- RenataAl zoológico, papá.To the zoo, dad.
- Gerardo¿Qué animal quieres ver?Which animal do you want to see?
- RenataLos monos y las jirafas.The monkeys and the giraffes.
