The Spanish word pato (duck) originates from the Hispanic Arabic word páṭṭ and is taken from the classic Arabic word batt.
Latin American Pronunciation
European Pronunciation
Pato is a masculine noun and it takes the following definite and indefinite articles:
- el pato = the duck
- los patos = the ducks
- un pato = a duck
- unos patos = some ducks
A duckling in Spanish is referred to by its diminutive form, patito. If the gender of the duck is known to be female, it’s called pata. A group of ducks is called a rebaño (flock).
Los patos nadan en lagos, pantanos y estanques.
Ducks swim in lakes, swamps, and ponds.
Los patitos iban nadando detrás de la pata en una fila.
The ducklings were swimming in a single-file line behind the duck.
Fun Fact:
Patitos swim in una fila (single-file line) behind their mother to save energia (energy) by riding the waves the mother duck makes.
The other parts of a duck include the following:
- alas = wings
- cola = tail
- pico = beak/bill
- pecho = breast
- plumas = feathers
- ojos = eyes
- fosas nasales = nostrils
- pies palmeados = webbed feet
- pechuga de pato = duck breast (as food)
Ducks are aves acuáticas (waterbirds) related to gansos (geese) and cisnes (swans). There are over 100 especies (species) around the world and they are known for their migración (migration), flying long distances to spend different seasons in different regiones (regions).
Un rebaño de patos migran de Canadá al norte de México.
A flock of ducks migrate from Canada to northern Mexico.
Did you know that…?
Ducks fly in forma de V (V formation) to save energy, communicate, and orient themselves. Their aleteo (flapping) creates a vórtice giratorio de aire (rotating vortex of air) that helps them save energy. The front duck uses the most energy flapping, while the ones behind mostly float. This is why ducks take turns being in front.
People like to keep ducks for their carne (meat), huevos (eggs), and plumas (feathers).
Although pato isn’t the kind of meat you see everywhere, it’s versatile. It can be used in a variety of dishes around the world, especially in China where pato pekín (Peking duck) is a culinary delight.
Duck is known for having a delicious flavor and being high in nutrients. One of the popular dishes is pato asado (roasted duck). Other savoury dishes include sopas (soups), guisos de pato (duck casseroles), and pechuga de pato al horno lento (slow-baked duck breast).
La pechuga de pato es jugosa y tiene un sabor delicioso.
Duck breast is juicy and has a delicious flavor.
In Latin America, pato primarily means duck, but it has various colloquial uses depending on the country.
It can denote being broke or without money, as in estar pato or andar pato, and can sometimes describe someone who is clumsy or awkward. In some countries, pato is used derogatorily to refer to a homosexual person, though this usage is not prevalent everywhere.
Additionally, in Colombia, pato is a term used to describe a person who wants to make the world believe they are tough or good at something, but in reality they aren’t.
Spanish idiomatic expressions featuring ‘pato’
Hacerse pato
Literal translation: to make yourself a duck
English meaning: to waste time (usually by choice)
Pagar el pato
Literal translation: to pay the duck
English meaning: to take the blame or to pay the consequences for someone else
