Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Weasel in Spanish: Comadreja
Comadreja · noun · koh-mah-DREH-hah
Comadreja is the Spanish word for weasel, a small, slender predatory mammal known for its speed and agility. Like in English, comadreja also serves as a figurative insult describing someone sneaky, untrustworthy, or sly. The word is used consistently across Spain and Latin America, with no significant regional alternatives.
Pronounce comadreja as koh-mah-DREH-hah, stressing the third syllable. The j makes an h sound, so the final syllable sounds like hah.
Una comadreja se escondió entre los arbustos del jardín.
A weasel hid among the bushes in the garden.
Weasel in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for weasel, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| comadreja | weasel | koh-mah-DREH-hah | Default, widely understood |
| mustela | weasel | scientific or zoological name for the weasel genus |
How Native Speakers Use Comadreja
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Wildlife sighting
Las comadrejas son rápidas y cazan ratones en los campos de cultivo.
Weasels are fast and hunt mice in crop fields.
Comadrejas appear in rural and agricultural settings where they help control rodent populations.
Figurative insult
No confíes en él, es una comadreja que siempre busca su propio beneficio.
Don't trust him, he's a weasel who always looks out for his own benefit.
Calling someone a comadreja implies they are sneaky and self-serving, identical to the English insult.
Nature documentary
El documental mostró cómo la comadreja persigue a su presa dentro de las madrigueras.
The documentary showed how the weasel chases its prey inside burrows.
Comadreja appears in educational and nature content about small predatory mammals.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Comadreja
Confusing comadreja with zarigüeya
Incorrect: La comadreja se hizo la muerta cuando vio al perro.
Correct: La zarigüeya se hizo la muerta cuando vio al perro.
Playing dead is the behavior of a zarigüeya (opossum), not a comadreja (weasel). These are completely different animals that English speakers sometimes conflate because both are small mammals.
Wrong gender treatment
Incorrect: El comadreja corrió por el pasto.
Correct: La comadreja corrió por el pasto.
Comadreja is feminine regardless of the animal's sex. It always takes the article la and feminine adjective forms.
Lock in Weasel 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 Comadreja used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using comadreja in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Una comadreja se escondió entre los arbustos del jardín. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Weasel in Spanish
- How do you say weasel in Spanish?
- Weasel in Spanish is comadreja, a word used across all Spanish-speaking countries without regional variation. The word functions both as a zoological term and as a figurative description of a sneaky or untrustworthy person.
- Is comadreja used as an insult in Spanish?
- Calling someone a comadreja implies they are sly, untrustworthy, and self-interested. The insult works the same way in Spanish as calling someone a weasel does in English, and it is widely understood throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
- What is the difference between comadreja and hurón?
- Comadreja is a weasel, a wild animal, while hurón is a ferret, typically a domesticated pet. Though related biologically, they occupy different roles in Spanish vocabulary: comadreja belongs to wildlife contexts and hurón to pet and domestic animal discussions.