Spanish Word of The Day – Bicho (bug / small animal)

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Coming originally from the Vulgar Latin word bestius, meaning beast or animal, bicho is a word you can use to talk about a bug, insect or even a small animal. Read on to learn how bicho can have a variety of different meanings depending on your location and the situation!

Latin American Pronunciation

European Pronunciation

Being a masculine noun, bicho takes the following definite and indefinite articles:

  • el bicho = the bug
  • los bichos = the bugs
  • un bicho = a bug
  • unos bichos = some bugs

Mira ese pequeño bicho, ¿qué es?

Look at that little creature, what is it?

As I mentioned above, bicho can be used to describe a bug, insect or small creature. There are of course some synonyms that mean the same thing:

  • insecto = insect
  • bicho volador = flying bug
  • bicho de luz = firefly
  • criatura = creature
  • bestia = beast
  • animal = animal

Interesting fact:

The term bicho is also used to refer to a bullfighting bull!

In Spain, the feminine form, bicha (or bicho) is used mostly towards kids, with the meaning rascal, or mischievous, sometimes even as a term of endearment.

Esa niña tiene cara de bicha.

That little girl has a mischievous face.

Important!

In parts of Latin America bicha is used as an insult to describe a woman as a bitch.

Bicho is also used in a figurative sense to describe a person with bad intentions or of bad character and bicho raro (rare) is used to describe someone as a weirdo or someone different from the norm.

Ten cuidado, aquella chica es un bicho raro, no te juntes con ella.

Be careful, that girl is a weirdo, don’t hang out with her.

Important!

Bicho in many parts of Central America and Mexico has very rude connotations and is primarily used as a slang word for the penis. So be careful not to use it here as a term of endearment – it probably won’t translate!

In summary, I would advise you to be very careful when using this word, especially if you are using it to describe a person. You might accidentally cause offence!

Close up of a selection of colourful butterflies and beetles in a display case at a museum.

Spanish idioms using ‘bicho’

Tener bicho / matar el bicho

Literal translation: to have bug / to kill the bug

English meaning: to be thirsty / to quench one’s thirst

Proverb using ‘bicho’

Bicho malo nunca muere

Literal translation: bad bug never dies

English meaning: the devil looks after his own

About The Author

Joanna Houseman

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Thanks to family connections and work opportunities, Joanna has a lifelong affiliation with Spain and has been learning the Spanish language since the age of 12. Following university, Joanna spent a year living and working in Barcelona where her level of spoken Spanish was elevated to new levels (and she also dabbled in a little Catalan). Upon returning to the UK, she spent another year working for a Madrid based company whilst living in London, liaising every day with the factory in Spain. Joanna and her family then decided to up roots and move to Andalucía where they lived and worked for 12 years, fully integrated into Spanish village life and supporting the ex-pat community with their language challenges. Now living in Wales, Joanna has kept her connections to her village in Spain and returns as often as possible.

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