Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Ostrich in Spanish
Avestruz · noun · ah-behs-TROOS
The Spanish word for ostrich is 'avestruz,' derived from the Latin 'avis struthio' (struthio bird). It's grammatically masculine (el avestruz) despite ending in 'z.' In South America, the related rhea bird is called 'ñandú,' which is sometimes confused with the African ostrich.
Pronounced ah-behs-TROOS with stress on the final syllable. The 'z' at the end is pronounced like 'th' in Spain (Castilian) or 's' in Latin America.
El avestruz es el ave más grande del mundo.
The ostrich is the largest bird in the world.
Ostrich in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for ostrich, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| avestruz | ostrich | ah-behs-TROOS | Default, widely understood |
| ñandú | ostrich | South American ostrich/rhea |
How Native Speakers Use Avestruz
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Zoo visit
Los niños se emocionaron al ver el avestruz en el zoológico.
The kids got excited seeing the ostrich at the zoo.
Common context where this vocabulary appears, using 'el avestruz' with masculine article.
Describing characteristics
Un avestruz puede correr a más de setenta kilómetros por hora.
An ostrich can run at more than seventy kilometers per hour.
Factual sentence structure useful for school presentations or nature discussions.
Idiomatic expression
Deja de esconder la cabeza como avestruz y enfrenta la situación.
Stop burying your head like an ostrich and face the situation.
The same 'head in the sand' idiom exists in Spanish, referencing the ostrich myth.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Avestruz
Wrong gender
Incorrect: La avestruz corrió rápido.
Correct: El avestruz corrió rápido.
Avestruz is masculine in Spanish (el avestruz), which is not obvious from its ending. Some speakers incorrectly assume feminine gender.
Incorrect plural
Incorrect: Los avestruzes del zoológico son enormes.
Correct: Los avestruces del zoológico son enormes.
Words ending in 'z' change the 'z' to 'c' before adding '-es' for the plural: avestruz → avestruces.
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Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Avestruz used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Ostrich in Spanish
- Is 'avestruz' masculine or feminine?
- The word 'avestruz' is masculine (el avestruz) in standard Spanish, though you may occasionally hear it used with a feminine article in some regions — the RAE (Royal Spanish Academy) recognizes it as masculine with ambiguous gender in some dialects.
- What's the difference between 'avestruz' and 'ñandú'?
- An 'avestruz' is the African ostrich (Struthio camelus), while a 'ñandú' is the South American rhea (Rhea americana), a similar but smaller flightless bird native to the grasslands of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.
- How do I form the plural of 'avestruz'?
- The plural follows the Spanish rule for words ending in 'z': change the 'z' to 'c' and add '-es,' giving you 'avestruces' — this same pattern applies to words like 'lápiz/lápices' and 'pez/peces.'