Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Turkey in Spanish
Pavo · noun · PAH-boh
Pavo is the universal Spanish noun for the turkey, whether you mean the barnyard bird or the roasted meat on a holiday table. In Mexico, guajolote — from the Nahuatl word huexólotl — is the traditional name for the live bird. The country Turkey is an entirely different word: Turquía. Pavo real, meanwhile, means peacock (literally 'royal turkey').
Pavo has two syllables: PA-vo. The stress is on the first syllable. The 'v' is pronounced like a soft 'b' in Spanish.
Preparamos un pavo al horno para la cena.
We prepared a roasted turkey for dinner.
Turkey in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for turkey, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| pavo | turkey | PAH-boh | Default, widely understood |
| guajolote | turkey | Mexico, indigenous Nahuatl origin | |
| Turquía | turkey | the country Turkey |
How Native Speakers Use Pavo
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Holiday meal
En Navidad siempre comemos pavo relleno.
At Christmas we always eat stuffed turkey.
Pavo relleno is a traditional holiday dish in many Spanish-speaking countries.
Mexican usage
Mi abuela cría guajolotes en su rancho.
My grandmother raises turkeys on her ranch.
Guajolote is the everyday word for live turkeys in much of Mexico.
Country vs. bird
Turquía es un país, y el pavo es un ave.
Turkey is a country, and the turkey is a bird.
Unlike English, Spanish uses completely different words for each meaning.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Pavo
Country–animal mix-up
Incorrect: Quiero viajar a Pavo.
Correct: Quiero viajar a Turquía.
Pavo is the bird. The country Turkey is Turquía in Spanish.
Peacock confusion
Incorrect: Vimos un pavo con plumas coloridas en el zoológico. (meaning peacock)
Correct: Vimos un pavo real con plumas coloridas en el zoológico.
A pavo is a turkey. Add real to specify a peacock: pavo real.
Lock in Turkey 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 Pavo used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using pavo in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Preparamos un pavo al horno para la cena. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Turkey in Spanish
- Why do Mexicans say guajolote instead of pavo?
- Guajolote comes from the Nahuatl word huexólotl. Since turkeys are native to Mexico and were domesticated there long before Spanish colonization, the indigenous name persists in everyday Mexican Spanish.
- Does pavo real literally mean royal turkey?
- Pavo real translates word-for-word as 'royal turkey,' but it refers exclusively to the peacock. The name likely arose because early Spanish speakers saw the peacock as a grander version of the turkey.
- Is pavo used for both the live bird and the cooked meat?
- Whether you are talking about a turkey roaming a farm or sliced turkey on a sandwich, pavo covers both meanings.