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"El cobayo" is a noun which is often translated as "guinea pig", and "la cobaya" is a noun which is also often translated as "guinea pig". Learn more about the difference between "el cobayo" and "la cobaya" below.
el cobayo(
koh
-
bah
-
yoh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (animal)
a. guinea pig
Tengo un cobayo marrón y blanco que se llama Yago.I have a brown-and-white guinea pig called Yago.
El niño le dio un pedacito de lechuga al cobayo.The boy gave the guinea pig a piece of lettuce.
2. (figurative) (subject of experiment)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. guinea pig (figurative)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
A mí no me vas a agarrar de cobayo. ¡Busca alguien más que te ayude con tus experimentos!You're not going to use me as a guinea pig. Find someone else to help you with your experiments!
el cobaya, la cobaya(
koh
-
bah
-
yah
)This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
1. (animal)
a. guinea pig
Federico me pidió que le regalara un cobaya para su cumpleaños.Federico asked me to give him a guinea pig for his birthday.
La cobaya se escapó de la jaula y se escondió en algún rincón de la casa.The guinea pig escaped from its cage and hid somewhere in the house.
2. (figurative) (subject of experiment)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. guinea pig (figurative)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
El científico loco capturaba jóvenes para utilizarlos como cobayas para sus experimentos.The mad scientist captured young boys to use them as guinea pigs for his experiments.
