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"Oveja" is a noun which is often translated as "sheep", and "borrego" is a noun which is often translated as "lamb". Learn more about the difference between "oveja" and "borrego" below.
la oveja(
oh
-
beh
-
hah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
el borrego, la borrega(
boh
-
rreh
-
goh
)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. lamb (baby sheep)
Llevamos a los niños a la granja y vimos borregos y cabritillas.We took the children to the farm and saw lambs and kids.
b. yearling lamb (year-old lamb)
Estos borregos nacieron hace casi un año, y aún no los hemos esquilado.These yearling lambs were born nearly a year ago, and we haven't shorn them yet.
c. yearling sheep (year-old sheep)
Estos corderos se venderán como borregos el año próximo.These lambs will be sold as yearling sheep next year.
d. sheep (adult sheep)
Mi amiga Teresa cría borregos para la producción de lana.My friend Teresa raises sheep for wool production.
2. (colloquial) (pejorative) (conformist)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
An offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc. (e.g., redneck).
a. sheep
Ese hombre es un líder peligroso; y también los borregos que lo siguen.That man is a dangerous leader; and so are the sheep who follow him.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
a. fleecy cloud
Como dice el dicho: borregos en el cielo, charcos en el suelo.As the saying goes: fleecy clouds in the sky, puddles on the ground.
4. (colloquial) (deception) (Cuba) (Dominican Republic) (Mexico)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Cuba
Regionalism used in the Dominican Republic
Regionalism used in Mexico
a. hoax
Muchos caen víctimas de un borrego que dice que les van a cerrar la cuenta de correo electrónico.Many people fall victim to a hoax in which they're told their email accounts are going to be closed.
b. false rumor (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Está circulando el borrego de que mi jefe va a renunciar a su puesto.Somebody started a false rumor that my boss is going to quit his job.
c. false rumour (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Corre el borrego de que hay órdenes de matar a este hombre.There's a false rumour going round that there are orders to kill this man.
los borregos
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
a. whitecaps (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Me pareció ver algo moverse entre los borregos de las olas.I thought I saw something moving among the whitecaps of the waves.
b. white horses (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
El mar está un poco agitado, con olas grandes que forman borregos.The sea is a little choppy, with big waves forming white horses.
