Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Vulture in Spanish: Buitre
Buitre · noun · BWEE-treh
The Spanish word for vulture is 'buitre' (masculine noun). However, this word varies significantly by region: in Mexico and Central America, the common black vulture is called 'zopilote'; in Colombia and Peru, 'gallinazo'; in Venezuela, 'zamuro'. The word 'buitre' is also used figuratively to describe a greedy or opportunistic person.
Buitre is pronounced BWEE-treh. The 'ui' combination creates a quick 'wee' sound, and the final 'e' is a short 'eh'. Zopilote is soh-pee-LOH-teh.
Los buitres volaban en círculos sobre el desierto.
The vultures were flying in circles over the desert.
Vulture in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for vulture, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| buitre | vulture | BWEE-treh | Default, widely understood |
| zopilote | vulture | Mexico/Central America | |
| gallinazo | vulture | Colombia/Peru |
How Native Speakers Use Buitre
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Wildlife observation
El buitre leonado es una especie protegida en España.
The griffon vulture is a protected species in Spain.
Referring to a specific vulture species in a conservation context.
Regional vocabulary
Mira, hay un zopilote parado en el techo de la casa.
Look, there's a vulture standing on the roof of the house.
In Mexico, zopilote is the everyday word for the common vultures seen in towns.
Figurative insult
Esos buitres financieros se aprovechan de la gente en crisis.
Those financial vultures take advantage of people in crisis.
Using buitre figuratively to criticize opportunistic or predatory behavior.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Buitre
Using the wrong regional term
Incorrect: Vi un buitre en la carretera. (in casual Mexican speech)
Correct: Vi un zopilote en la carretera.
In Mexico, the everyday word for the common vultures people encounter is 'zopilote', not 'buitre', which sounds overly formal or bookish in casual Mexican conversation.
Gender error
Incorrect: La buitre está en el árbol.
Correct: El buitre está en el árbol.
Buitre is a masculine noun regardless of the bird's sex, so it always takes the masculine article 'el'.
Lock in Vulture 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 Buitre used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using buitre in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Los buitres volaban en círculos sobre el desierto. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Vulture in Spanish
- Why are there so many words for vulture in Spanish?
- Different Spanish-speaking regions developed their own terms for local vulture species, often drawing from indigenous languages—'zopilote' comes from Nahuatl (tzopilotl), 'gallinazo' derives from 'gallina' (hen) comparing the bird's ground behavior, and 'zamuro' has indigenous Venezuelan origins.
- What's a cóndor and how does it relate to buitre?
- A cóndor (condor) is a specific type of New World vulture found in the Andes mountains, famous for being one of the largest flying birds—it belongs to the vulture family but has its own distinct name due to its cultural and ecological significance in South America.
- Is buitre used as an insult?
- Calling someone a 'buitre' is indeed a common figurative insult in Spanish, implying the person is opportunistic, greedy, or preys on others' misfortune—similar to calling someone a 'vulture' in English.