"the tiny scavenger beetle"

Question

Is one way of translating "the tiny scavenger beetle",
"el escarabajo del carroñero minúsculo"? Gracias?

Answer 1

You need to say "el minúsculo escarabajo carroñero"

carroñero, ra.

1. adj. Perteneciente o relativo a la carroña.

2. adj. Dicho de un animal: Que se alimenta principalmente de carroña. U. t. c. s.

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maybe we can move on soon...Hyenas next! - annierats, Dec 21, 2012

O, el pequeñito escarabajo enterrador?? - annierats, Dec 21, 2012

Julian, my last attempt is as yours except for the "del". See my post here. http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/241662/translating-the-english-grammar-structure-adjective-1st-noun-2nd-noun/newest#a690934 - bandit51jd, Dec 21, 2012

Why is the “del” used in the structure “old mill stream” but not here in the Spanish structure for “tiny scavenger beetle”? Muchas gracias! - bandit51jd, Dec 21, 2012

Answer 2

Son conocidos como :''escarabajos enterradores". Se alimientan de carroña.

And they are disgusting, you may add. - francobollo, Dec 21, 2012

Necessary, Franco, nevertheless.. - annierats, Dec 21, 2012

Answer 3

El escarabajo carroñero is the scavenger beetle so I guess you could just put 'pequeño in there too - el pequeño escarabajo carroñero.

Yes, that's what I thought too. - annierats, Dec 21, 2012

Answer 4

El diminuto escarabajo de carroña (carroñero sounds awful!)

Franco would you provide the English translation? Thanks. - bandit51jd, Dec 21, 2012

The tiny scavenger beetle. Isn't that what you asked for, bandita? I'm a bit puzzled by your question. - francobollo, Dec 21, 2012

With all the talking about scavengers and foul and little I've lost track of why I asked that! Jajaja. - bandit51jd, Dec 21, 2012

Answer 5

I find the use of "gravedigger"/ "enterrador" scavenger interesting.

I'm still looking to translate "the tiny scavenger beetle". Am I getting closer with Annierats suggestion?

"el escarabajo del enterrador minúsculo"? Gracias?

Normally, pequeño seems adequate, but minúsculo would work too. - annierats, Dec 21, 2012

El escarabajo del enterrador means the gravedigger's beetle - francobollo, Dec 21, 2012

You don't need 'del. Escarabajo enterador, is the name of the species. - annierats, Dec 21, 2012

This is what I wanted to know. Please see my post: http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/241662/translating-the-english-grammar-structure-adjective-1st-noun-2nd-noun - bandit51jd, Dec 21, 2012

I think what happened here is in English the structure is adjective/1st noun/2nd noun but since the Spanish translate the species it becomes an adjectiv/noun and the "del" isn't needed? - bandit51jd, Dec 21, 2012

Exactly. Del is not needed. - francobollo, Dec 21, 2012

Answer 6

With Kiwi and Annie's suggestions how about,

"el minúsculo del escarabajo carroñero"?

Sounds very odd! - francobollo, Dec 21, 2012

I looked up "carroñero" in wordreference.com and concerning a person it means vile or foul. If it is referring to an animal feeding on carrion, "animal carroñero", is used. - bandit51jd, Dec 21, 2012

Wordreference.com also indicates “carroña” is the feminine “carrion”. - bandit51jd, Dec 21, 2012

It is correct, but it sounds awful. We say "aves de carroña or aves de rapiña" when referring to scavanger birds. - francobollo, Dec 21, 2012