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"Gallo" is a noun which is often translated as "rooster", and "pollo" is a noun which is often translated as "chicken". Learn more about the difference between "gallo" and "pollo" below.
el gallo(
gah
-
yoh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (bird)
a. wrong note (in singing)
La soprano cantó un gallo al inicio de la actuación.The soprano sang a wrong note at the beginning of the performance.
b. squeak (in speaking)
Al chico se le escapó un gallo mientras hablaba con la chica bonita.The boy let out a squeak while he was talking with the pretty girl.
3. (colloquial) (strong man)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. tough guy (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Le encanta actuar como el gallo, pero es realmente lo contrario.He loves to act like a tough guy but he's really the opposite.
a. serenade
El mariachi realizó un gallo impresionante para la joven.The mariachi band performed an impressive serenade for the young lady.
5. (colloquial) (wad of phlegm) (Mexico)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Mexico
a. loogie (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
¡Qué asco! Hay un gallo en el bebedero.Gross! There's a loogie in the water fountain.
el pollo(
poh
-
yoh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (animal)
2. (culinary)
3. (baby bird)
4. (colloquial) (large wad of phlegm) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. loogie (colloquial) (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Estaba tan enfermo que estaba tosiendo pollos.He was so sick that he was coughing up loogies.
b. gob (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
¿Lo viste? Acaba de escupir ese pollo en la calle.Did you see him? He just coughed up that gob on the street.
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).
5. (colloquial) (young person) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. young man (masculine)
Eso es un dispositivo muy elegante que tienes, pollo. ¿Qué es? - Es un teléfono.That's quite a fancy device you have, young man. What is it? - It's a phone.
b. young woman (feminine)
Las pollitas del barrio andan vestidas a la última.The young women in the area all dress in the latest fashions.
c. kid
¿Quieres ir al bar en la calle Hidalgo? - No, está lleno de pollos.Do you want to go to the bar on Hidalgo? - No, it's full of kids.
d. youngster
Mi abuelo me estaba preguntando qué hacen los pollos hoy en día para divertirse.My grandfather was asking me what youngsters like to do for fun these days.
6. (colloquial) (migrant) (Mexico)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Mexico
a. undocumented migrant
El coyote cobra miles de dólares por pasar un pollo al otro lado.The human smuggler charges thousands of dollars to get an undocumented migrant over the border.
