Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Vultures in Spanish: Buitres
Buitres · noun · BWEE-trehs
Buitres is the general Spanish word for vultures, but regional names vary dramatically: zopilotes in Mexico and Central America, gallinazos in Colombia and Peru, and jotes in Chile and Argentina. All refer to the same family of scavenging birds, but using the wrong regional term can draw blank stares depending on the country.
Buitres is pronounced BWEE-trehs, with the ui producing a quick diphthong. The singular buitre is BWEE-treh.
Los buitres volaban en círculos sobre el campo seco.
The vultures were circling over the dry field.
Vultures in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for vultures, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| buitres | vultures | BWEE-trehs | Default, widely understood |
| zopilotes | vultures | used in Mexico and Central America for New World vultures | |
| gallinazos | vultures | used in Colombia, Peru, and other South American countries |
How Native Speakers Use Buitres
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Nature observation
Vimos varios zopilotes posados en los árboles cerca de la carretera.
We saw several vultures perched in the trees near the highway.
Zopilotes is the everyday term in Mexico for the black vultures commonly seen along roads.
Figurative usage
Los buitres financieros se aprovecharon de la crisis para comprar barato.
The financial vultures took advantage of the crisis to buy cheap.
Buitre is used figuratively for opportunistic or predatory people, similar to English usage.
South American reference
Los gallinazos limpian las calles comiendo los restos de basura orgánica.
Vultures clean the streets by eating organic waste.
In cities across Colombia and Peru, gallinazos serve an ecological role as natural waste processors.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Buitres
Using buitre in Mexico when zopilote is expected
Incorrect: Mira, hay un buitre en el techo. (in Mexico)
Correct: Mira, hay un zopilote en el techo.
In Mexico, the everyday word for the common black vulture is zopilote. Buitre is understood but sounds formal or foreign in casual Mexican conversation.
Confusing águila with buitre
Incorrect: Los buitres cazan conejos en el desierto.
Correct: Las águilas cazan conejos en el desierto.
Vultures are scavengers that feed on carrion, not active hunters. Confusing buitres with águilas (eagles) misrepresents the bird's behavior and ecological role.
Lock in Vultures 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 Buitres used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using buitres in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Los buitres volaban en círculos sobre el campo seco. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Vultures in Spanish
- How do you say vultures in Spanish?
- The general term is buitres, but regional names include zopilotes in Mexico and Central America, gallinazos in Colombia and Peru, and jotes in Chile and Argentina. Using the local name shows cultural fluency and avoids confusion.
- What is the difference between buitre and zopilote?
- Buitre is the pan-Spanish term for any vulture, while zopilote specifically refers to the black vulture (Coragyps atratus) found in the Americas. In Spain, where Old World vultures like the griffon vulture live, buitre is the only word used.
- Can buitre be used figuratively in Spanish?
- Buitre carries a strong figurative meaning of an opportunistic or predatory person, particularly in financial and political contexts. Calling someone a buitre implies they exploit others' misfortune for personal gain, mirroring the English metaphor exactly.