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"Los patos" is a form of "pato", a noun which is often translated as "duck". "Los pájaros" is a form of "pájaro", a noun which is often translated as "bird". Learn more about the difference between "los patos" and "los pájaros" below.
el pato, la pata(
pah
-
toh
)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).
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
2. (culinary)
a. duck
El chef preparó su famoso pato con salsa de mango.The chef made his famous duck in mango sauce.
3. (receptacle) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. bedpan
Los pacientes del hospital que no pueden pararse tienen que usar un pato.Hospital patients who cannot stand must use a bedpan.
4. (colloquial) (tedious thing)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. drag (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
La fiesta se convirtió en un auténtico pato cuando empezó a llover.The party became a real drag once it started raining.
b. bore
Hoy ha sido un pato total en la tienda porque no ha entrado un solo cliente.Today has been a total bore at the shop because we haven't had a single customer.
5. (clumsy oaf)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Soy un pato bailando.I have two left feet when it comes to dancing.
La camarera es un pato; la hemos visto tirar tres platos ya.The waitress is really clumsy; we've already seen her drop three dishes.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
6. (colloquial) (without money) (Southern Cone)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. broke (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Me quedé pato después de mis vacaciones en Nueva York.I was broke after my vacation in New York.
el pájaro(
pah
-
hah
-
roh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (animal)
a. bird
El pájaro en el alféizar de mi ventana llena el aire de música.The bird on my windowsill fills the air with music.
2. (colloquial) (male genitalia) (Guatemala) (Venezuela)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Guatemala
Regionalism used in Venezuela
a. pee-pee (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
Se sacó el pájaro y empezó a mear.He took out his pee-pee and started to piss.
b. willy (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Juanito, ¡deja de tocarte el pájaro!Juanito, stop playing with your willy!
3. (extremely offensive) (homosexual man) (Caribbean) (Costa Rica) (Ecuador)
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
Regionalism used in Costa Rica
Regionalism used in Ecuador
a. fag (extremely offensive) (United States)
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
Regionalism used in the United States
b. poof (extremely offensive) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
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).
4. (colloquial) (astute person)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. crafty devil (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Ese pájaro cree que engaña a todos, pero un día pagará.That crafty devil thinks he's got everyone fooled, but one day he will pay.
