Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Camel in Spanish: Camello
Camello · noun (masculine) · kah-MEH-yoh
Camel in Spanish is camello (el camello). Technically, a camello has two humps (Bactrian camel), while a dromedario has one hump (dromedary). In everyday speech, camello covers both types.
kah-MEH-yoh
Montamos un camello durante nuestra visita al desierto.
We rode a camel during our visit to the desert.
Camel in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for camel, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| camello | camel | kah-MEH-yoh | Default, widely understood |
| dromedario | camel | one-humped camel specifically |
How Native Speakers Use Camello
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
At the zoo
Los camellos pueden vivir sin agua durante varios días.
Camels can go without water for several days.
Camello is the universal term recognized everywhere in the Spanish-speaking world.
Travel story
En Marruecos hicimos un paseo en camello por las dunas.
In Morocco we did a camel ride through the dunes.
Paseo en camello (camel ride) is a common tourist expression.
Biology lesson
El dromedario tiene una joroba y el camello bactriano tiene dos.
The dromedary has one hump and the Bactrian camel has two.
Joroba is the word for hump; dromedario specifies the one-humped species.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Camello
Confusing camello with caballo
Incorrect: Montamos un camello en la granja. (meaning horse)
Correct: Montamos un caballo en la granja.
Camello (camel) and caballo (horse) look similar in writing but are different animals. Double-check spelling.
Slang awareness
Incorrect: Using camello casually in Spain without knowing slang.
Correct: Be aware that camello is slang for drug dealer in Spain.
In Spanish slang (especially Spain), un camello can mean a drug dealer. Context makes the meaning obvious, but learners should be aware.
Lock in Camel Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Camello used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using camello in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Montamos un camello durante nuestra visita al desierto. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Camel in Spanish
- How do you say camel in Spanish?
- Camel is camello (el camello). For the one-humped species specifically, dromedario can be used.
- What is the difference between camello and dromedario?
- Technically, camello is a two-humped Bactrian camel and dromedario is a one-humped camel. In daily speech, camello covers both.
- What is a camel's hump called in Spanish?
- A camel's hump is una joroba. A two-humped camel has dos jorobas.