Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Ants in Spanish
Hormigas · noun · or-MEE-gahs
The Spanish word for ants is 'hormigas,' the plural of 'hormiga.' This feminine noun refers to the industrious insects found across every Spanish-speaking country. Hormigas are so culturally present that Spanish has the expression 'ser una hormiguita' to describe a hardworking, diligent person.
Hormigas is pronounced or-MEE-gahs. The initial 'h' is always silent in Spanish, and the stress falls on the second syllable.
Las hormigas entraron a la cocina y se llevaron las migajas.
The ants entered the kitchen and carried away the crumbs.
ants in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for ants, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| hormigas | ants | or-MEE-gahs | Default, widely understood |
| hormiga | ants | singular form for one ant |
How Native Speakers Use Hormigas
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Pest problem
Hay hormigas en toda la despensa; necesitamos veneno.
There are ants all over the pantry; we need poison.
A common household complaint in tropical regions.
Nature observation
Las hormigas pueden cargar hasta cincuenta veces su peso.
Ants can carry up to fifty times their weight.
Used in educational or conversational contexts about nature.
Idiomatic expression
Mi abuela es una hormiguita, siempre está trabajando.
My grandmother is a little ant — she's always working.
The diminutive 'hormiguita' is used affectionately to describe industrious people.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Hormigas
Silent H error
Incorrect: La jormiga está en la mesa.
Correct: La hormiga está en la mesa.
The 'h' in hormiga is silent but must always be written. Spelling it with 'j' is incorrect.
Number confusion
Incorrect: Hay una hormigas en mi comida.
Correct: Hay una hormiga en mi comida.
Use the singular 'hormiga' with 'una.' The plural 'hormigas' pairs with plural articles like 'unas' or 'las.'
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See Hormigas used by native speakers
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Common Questions About ants in Spanish
- What is the singular of hormigas?
- The singular form is 'hormiga,' which drops the final 's' and is used when referring to a single ant.
- How do you say 'ant hill' in Spanish?
- An ant hill is called a 'hormiguero' in Spanish, derived from the root word 'hormiga' with the suffix '-ero' indicating a place or container.
- Is the H in hormiga pronounced?
- The letter 'h' is always silent in standard Spanish, so hormiga is pronounced as if it started with the vowel 'o' — or-MEE-gah.