Animals 2

Question 1

Vimos un hornero construyendo su nido.

Answer 1

HORNERO = ovenbird. Argentina’s national bird. Builds distinctive clay nests that look like old clay ovens (hornos). A beloved symbol of Argentine identity.

Question 2

Cuidado con las yacarés en el litoral.

Answer 2

YACARÉ = Argentine caiman / alligator. Found in the northeastern wetlands (Litoral region). A distinctly Argentine word for this reptile — from Guaraní language.

Question 3

El carpincho es el roedor más grande del mundo.

Answer 3

CARPINCHO = capybara. The world’s largest rodent, found throughout Argentina particularly in wetland areas. Beloved in Argentine popular culture — carpincho leather goods are common.

Question 4

Viste el cóndor sobrevolando la cordillera?

Answer 4

CÓNDOR = Andean condor. One of the world’s largest flying birds, iconic symbol of the Andes. National symbol of several South American countries including Argentina.

Question 5

Hay muchos flamencos en la Puna argentina.

Answer 5

FLAMENCO = flamingo. Large flocks inhabit the salt lakes of the Puna (high Andean plateau) in northwestern Argentina. Spectacular wildlife sight.

Question 6

El ñandú es el avestruz americano.

Answer 6

ÑANDÚ = rhea. South America’s largest bird, similar to an ostrich. Found on the Pampas. From Guaraní — another example of indigenous language influence on Argentine Spanish.

Question 7

Cuidado, ese bicho pica fuerte.

Answer 7

BICHO = bug / creature / critter. General Rioplatense term for any insect or small creature. ‘Bicho malo’ = nasty creature. Also used affectionately for mischievous people or animals.

Question 8

Atamos el caballo en el palenque.

Answer 8

CABALLO = horse. Essential in Argentine culture given the gaucho tradition. Related vocab: YEGUA (mare), POTRO (colt/young horse), PALENQUE (hitching post).

Question 9

Las vacas pastan en la pampa.

Answer 9

VACA = cow. Central to Argentine identity and economy. Related asado vocab: NOVILLO (steer/young bull used for beef), TERNERA (veal), RES (beef animal generally).

Question 10

El asado incluye achuras y chorizos.

Answer 10

ACHURAS = offal / innards used in asado. Includes mollejas (sweetbreads), chinchulines (intestines), riñones (kidneys), morcilla (blood sausage). Essential asado vocabulary.

Question 11

Me mordió un tábano en el campo.

Answer 11

TÁBANO = horsefly. Notorious pest in the Argentine countryside and Pampas, particularly in summer. Knowing this word will make sense of many complaints in rural contexts.

Question 12

El loro hablaba sin parar en la feria.

Answer 12

LORO = parrot. Argentina has several native parrot species. Also used colloquially for a chatterbox — ‘hablar como un loro’ = to talk like a parrot / to talk nonstop.

Question 13

Vimos una nutria en el delta del Tigre.

Answer 13

NUTRIA = river otter / coypu. Found in the Tigre delta near Buenos Aires — you may well see one on your visit. Note: in English ‘nutria’ specifically refers to the coypu.

Question 14

El tatú bola se enrolla cuando tiene miedo.

Answer 14

TATÚ = armadillo (from Guaraní). TATÚ BOLA = three-banded armadillo that rolls into a ball. Several armadillo species native to Argentina — the word comes from Guaraní.

Question 15

Hay una vizcacha sentada en esa roca.

Answer 15

VIZCACHA = viscacha. A large rodent related to the chinchilla, common on the Pampas. Known for sitting on rocks looking philosophical — subject of much Argentine humor.

Question 16

El zorro colorado merodeaba el campamento.

Answer 16

ZORRO COLORADO = South American red fox. Common throughout Argentina. ZORRO = fox generally. Also a famous fictional character — Zorro means fox in Spanish.

Question 17

Cuidado con las arañas pollito en el norte.

Answer 17

ARAÑA POLLITO = bird-eating tarantula. Found in northern Argentina. ARAÑA = spider. POLLITO = chick — named because it’s large enough to eat small birds.

Question 18

Los pingüinos de Magallanes colonizan la Patagonia.

Answer 18

PINGÜINO = penguin. Magellanic penguins breed in huge colonies in Patagonia — Peninsula Valdés is one of the best places to see them. A popular Argentine wildlife destination.

Question 19

La oveja merino es importante en la Patagonia.

Answer 19

OVEJA = sheep. Patagonia has enormous sheep estancias. MERINO = merino sheep, bred for fine wool. CORDERO = lamb — also important in Patagonian cuisine.

Question 20

El puma acecha en las sierras.

Answer 20

PUMA = puma / mountain lion. Found throughout Argentina from the Andes to Patagonia. Same animal as cougar or mountain lion. Top predator in Argentine ecosystems.

Question 21

El venado de las pampas está en peligro.

Answer 21

VENADO = deer (particularly the Pampas deer). ‘Venado de las pampas’ = Pampas deer, an endangered native species. CIERVO = deer generally.

Question 22

Atraparon una raya enorme en el río.

Answer 22

RAYA = stingray / ray. Found in Argentine rivers including the Paraná and Río de la Plata. Also means stripe/line — context determines meaning.

Question 23

El dorado es el rey de los ríos argentinos.

Answer 23

DORADO = golden dorado, a large freshwater fish. One of the most prized sport fish in Argentina, found in the Paraná river system. Not the same as mahi-mahi.

Question 24

Vimos una ballena franca austral en Valdés.

Answer 24

BALLENA FRANCA AUSTRAL = southern right whale. Peninsula Valdés in Patagonia is one of the world’s best whale watching destinations. BALLENA = whale.

Question 25

Mi gata tiene gatitos recién nacidos.

Answer 25

GATO/GATA = cat. GATITO/GATITA = kitten. In Rioplatense, 'gatita' is also an affectionate term for an attractive woman — worth knowing the dual usage.

Question 26

El perro de mi vecina es un faldero insoportable.

Answer 26

PERRO FALDERO = lapdog. FALDERO = lap (literally skirt-related). Used literally for small dogs and figuratively for someone who follows another person around obsequiously.

Question 27

¿Le diste de comer al pájaro?

Answer 27

PÁJARO = bird (general). AVE = bird (more formal/scientific). PAJARITO = little bird. 'Tener pájaros en la cabeza' = to have your head in the clouds / to be a dreamer.

Question 28

El sapo saltó al agua de golpe.

Answer 28

SAPO = toad. RANA = frog. 'Tragarse el sapo' = to swallow your pride / to put up with something unpleasant. Body part idiom with animal — very Rioplatense expression.

Question 29

Las hormigas se llevaron todo el azúcar.

Answer 29

HORMIGA = ant. 'Ser una hormiga' = to be hardworking and thrifty. Argentine ants are famously industrious — leaf-cutter ants (hormigas cortadoras) are a common garden pest.

Question 30

El chancho estaba revolcándose en el barro.

Answer 30

CHANCHO = pig (Argentina/Río de la Plata). More standard: CERDO or PUERCO. 'Chancho' is the Rioplatense term. 'Comer como un chancho' = to eat like a pig.

Question 31

La vaca tiene cuatro partes: lomo, costilla, vacío y falda.

Answer 31

Key BEEF CUTS for asado: LOMO (tenderloin), COSTILLA (rib), VACÍO (flank), FALDA (brisket/skirt), ASADO DE TIRA (short ribs). Knowing cuts helps enormously at a parrilla.

Question 32

El zorrino se defendió y dejó un olor terrible.

Answer 32

ZORRINO = skunk (Argentine term, from Quechua). More widely known as MOFETA. 'Oler a zorrino' = to smell terrible. Skunks are found throughout Argentina.

Question 33

Vimos una lechuza en el campo anoche.

Answer 33

LECHUZA = barn owl / owl generally. BÚHO = horned owl specifically. 'Ser un búho' = to be a night owl. Several owl species native to Argentina.

Question 34

El tero gritaba como loco en la orilla.

Answer 34

TERO = southern lapwing. One of Argentina's most characteristic birds — known for its extremely loud, persistent call. Common on the Pampas and urban parks. Impossible to miss.