Duck in Spanish
The Spanish word for 'duck' is 'pato', pronounced PAH-toh (IPA: /ˈpato/). It is an A1-level masculine noun (plural: patos).
Pronunciation: PAH-toh
| Spanish | pato |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | PAH-toh · /ˈpato/ |
| Part of speech | noun (masculine) |
| Plural | patos |
| Level | A1 (beginner-friendly) |
Example Sentences with 'pato'
- Los patos nadan en el lago del parque.
The ducks swim in the park lake. - ¿Podemos darles pan a los patos?
Can we give bread to the ducks? - Un pato cruzó la calle con sus patitos detrás.
A duck crossed the street with its ducklings behind it. - Todos los domingos llevamos a los niños a ver los patos del estanque.
Every Sunday we take the kids to see the ducks at the pond.
Common Phrases with 'pato'
- pagar el pato
to take the blame / be the scapegoat - hacerse pato
to play dumb (Mexico) - estar pato
to be broke (Chile)
How to Use 'pato'
The female is 'pata', which also means 'leg/paw of an animal', so context matters. 'Pagar el pato' is a very common idiom meaning to take the blame for something you didn't do.
Regional note: In Chile, 'estar pato' means to be broke (out of money); in Mexico, 'hacerse pato' means to play dumb or pretend not to notice.
Related Vocabulary
Frequently Asked Questions
'Duck' in Spanish is 'pato', pronounced PAH-toh.
It is spelled p-a-t-o.
'Pato' is masculine: you say 'el pato'.
The plural of 'pato' is 'patos'.
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