Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Parrot in Spanish: Loro, Perico, Papagayo, and Cotorra
Loro · noun (masculine) · LOH-roh
Parrot in Spanish is loro (LOH-roh), the most common generic term. Perico is a parakeet or small parrot. Papagayo refers to larger parrots and macaws. Cotorra is a parrot that talks a lot—and it's also slang for a chatty person.
Loro is LOH-roh, two syllables, stress on LOH.
El loro del vecino repite todo lo que escucha.
The neighbor's parrot repeats everything it hears.
Parrot in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for parrot, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| loro | parrot | LOH-roh | Default, widely understood |
| perico | parrot | parakeet / small parrot (Latin America) | |
| papagayo | parrot | large parrot, macaw-type | |
| cotorra | parrot | parrot or chatterbox (colloquial) |
How Native Speakers Use Loro
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
A talking parrot
El loro aprendió a decir 'buenos días' y 'hola'.
The parrot learned to say 'good morning' and 'hello.'
Loros are famous for mimicking human speech.
A parakeet
Mi abuela tiene un perico verde que canta por las mañanas.
My grandmother has a green parakeet that sings in the mornings.
Perico is the smaller, parakeet-type bird.
Chatterbox idiom
Hablas más que una cotorra.
You talk more than a parrot.
Cotorra as slang means someone who never stops talking.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Loro
Using pájaro for parrot
Incorrect: El pájaro habla.
Correct: El loro habla.
Pájaro is a generic bird. Loro specifically means parrot. Saying pájaro for a parrot is like saying 'animal' when you mean 'dog.'
Confusing papagayo with generic parrot
Incorrect: Assuming papagayo is the everyday word.
Correct: Loro is the everyday generic word for parrot.
Papagayo is more specific and literary, typically referring to large parrots or macaws. Loro is the go-to word in daily speech.
Lock in Parrot 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 Loro used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using loro in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El loro del vecino repite todo lo que escucha. 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 Parrot in Spanish
- How do you say parrot in Spanish?
- Parrot is loro (LOH-roh). Smaller parrots are pericos, large parrots are papagayos, and a chatty parrot (or person) is a cotorra.
- What does hablar como un loro mean?
- Hablar como un loro (to talk like a parrot) means to repeat things without understanding them, or to chatter nonstop.
- Are there parrots native to Spanish-speaking countries?
- Yes, Latin America has hundreds of native parrot species, from macaws (guacamayos) in the Amazon to parakeets (pericos) in Mexico and Central America.