How do you say 'flamingo' in Spanish?

The word is flamenco — the same word used for the famous Spanish dance and music, though context makes the meaning clear.

Why does flamenco mean both the bird and the dance?

Both uses share a common etymological root related to the word for flame (flama) — the bird's fiery color and the dance's passionate intensity both evoke the image of fire.

Where can you see flamingos in Spanish-speaking countries?

Flamingos can be found in the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, the Caribbean coast of Colombia and Venezuela, and the salt flats of Bolivia and Argentina.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Flamingo in Spanish: Flamenco

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Flamenco · noun · flah-MEHN-koh

Flamenco is the Spanish word for the flamingo bird, though it also famously refers to the Andalusian music and dance tradition.

flah-MEHN-koh

Los flamencos rosados se reúnen en la laguna al atardecer.

The pink flamingos gather at the lagoon at sunset.

Flamingo in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for flamingo, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
flamenco	flamingo	flah-MEHN-koh	Default, widely understood
flamingo	flamingo		sometimes used as loanword

How Native Speakers Use Flamenco

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Wildlife

Vimos flamencos en su hábitat natural durante el safari.

We saw flamingos in their natural habitat during the safari.

Sharing a wildlife watching experience.

Zoo visit

A los niños les encantó ver los flamencos en el zoológico.

The kids loved seeing the flamingos at the zoo.

Describing a family outing to the zoo.

Nature fact

Los flamencos obtienen su color rosa de los camarones que comen.

Flamingos get their pink color from the shrimp they eat.

Sharing an interesting animal fact.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Flamenco

Confusing the bird with the dance

Incorrect: Me encanta bailar flamenco. (meaning the bird)

Correct: Me encanta observar flamencos. (the bird)

Flamenco refers to both the bird and the Spanish art form — context determines the meaning, so be clear whether you mean the animal or the dance.

Using flamingo in Spanish

Incorrect: Hay flamingos en el lago.

Correct: Hay flamencos en el lago.

The standard Spanish word is flamenco, not the English loanword flamingo, though the latter may be understood.

Lock in Flamingo 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 Flamenco used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using flamenco in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Los flamencos rosados se reúnen en la laguna al atardecer. 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 Flamingo in Spanish

How do you say 'flamingo' in Spanish?: The word is flamenco — the same word used for the famous Spanish dance and music, though context makes the meaning clear.
Why does flamenco mean both the bird and the dance?: Both uses share a common etymological root related to the word for flame (flama) — the bird's fiery color and the dance's passionate intensity both evoke the image of fire.
Where can you see flamingos in Spanish-speaking countries?: Flamingos can be found in the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, the Caribbean coast of Colombia and Venezuela, and the salt flats of Bolivia and Argentina.