Spanish Word of the Day: Medusa (jellyfish)

Medusas, known as jellyfish in English, are fascinating sea creatures believed to be among the oldest on Earth, dating back 500 million years! Their name originates from the Greek language and mythology.

The word comes from ancient Greek, médousa, which means guardian or protector. In Greek mythology, this name refers to a winged female monster with snakes for hair.

Medusa is a feminine noun and it takes the following definite and indefinite articles: 

• la medusa = the jellyfish
• las medusas = the jellyfish (plural form stays the same)
• una medusa = a jellyfish
• unas medusas = some jellyfish (plural stays the same)

Medusas are carnívoras (carnivorous). They eat small fish, zooplancton (zooplankton), and other small organismos marinos (marine organisms). They capture prey with their tentáculos (tentacles). 

Their tentáculos (tentacles) hang from their bell-shaped body that is soft and parecido a gelatina (jelly-like). Their tentacles are powerful because of their aguijón (sting). Medusas do not have cerebros (brains), corazones (hearts), or huesos (bones), and their body is mostly made up of water. 

Fun Fact:

Despite not having a brain, medusas can still perform complex actions like cazar (hunting) and evitar peligro (avoiding danger).

Medusas are found mainly on the surface of every océano (ocean). They use their tentacles to protegerse (protect themselves).  Their tentacles have special cells called nematocistos (nematocysts) that can sting and release veneno (venom), some of which can be very strong.

Some medusa species cause stings that result in dolor severo (severe pain). Some are even life-threatening. However, most are harmless. Cubomedusas (box jellyfish) and the medusa Irukandji (Irukandji jellyfish) are among the especies más peligrosas (most dangerous species) in the world.

Medusas go through a life cycle, starting as tiny larva (larvae), then developing into pólipos (polyps), and finally transforming into medusas. 

Some types of medusas include: 

• Medusa luna = Moon jellyfish: They are round, have translucent bodies, short tentacles, and have a mild sting.
• Cuadromedusa = Box jellyfish: They are box-shaped, have long tentacles, and are good swimmers. They are found around Australia and the Indo-Pacific and have dangerous venom that can cause harm to humans.
• Medusa melena de león = Lion’s Mane Jellyfish: They are large, and have a reddish-brown bell and very long hair-like tentacles. They are found in colder waters.
• Medusa de cristal = Crystal Jellyfish: They have clear bodies and are bioluminescent, meaning they glow in the dark. They are found in the Northern Pacific Ocean.

Medusas are important to the ecosistema marino (marine ecosystem) because they help control the zooplankton population and serve as food to tortugas de mar (sea turtles).

Fun Fact:

Some medusas glow in the dark. This phenomenon is known as bioluminiscencia (bioluminescence). This ability helps them attract mates or scare off depredadores (predators).

As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, the word medusa comes from ancient Greek, médousa, which means guardian or protector. In Greek mythology, Medusa is a female monstruo (monster) with serpientes (snakes) for hair. 

Even though she had a monstrous appearance, she was a guardiana y protectora (guardian and protector) who turned people into rocks if someone looked at her directly. She could defend herself from enemigos (enemies) with her intense stare.

Medusa’s hair, known in Spanish as cabello or melena, looks similar to these marine mammals’ tentacles, which is what inspired the name for the medusas.

In Spanish, it’s common to use the word medusa colloquially to refer to people’s hair or an intense stare.

Fun Fact:

In some regions, especially in Latin America, aguamala (literally evil water) is commonly used, while in other Spanish-speaking areas, medusa is the more standard term for jellyfish.

Spanish idiomatic expressions featuring ‘medusa‘