Spanish · Nature, Animals & Weather

"Pig" in Spanish: cerdo

el cerdo

Say it: SEHR-dohmasculine · el cerdonoun/ˈseɾ.ðo/

A pig is el cerdo (SEHR-doh). It is masculine: un cerdo, los cerdos. Pork on menus is carne de cerdo.

On a farm

El cerdo duerme en el corral.
The pig sleeps in the pen.
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How to pronounce cerdo

Say it

SEHR-doh

/ˈseɾ.ðo/

SEHR-doh. Stress SEHR. Soft d between vowels is fine. Say cerdo clearly.

"Pig" in Spanish: quick reference

SpanishEnglish
el cerdothe pig

The live animal.

la cerdathe sow

Female pig.

la carne de cerdopork

Food and menu Spanish.

el puercopig / pork (regional)

Common in parts of Mexico and Central America.

How to use cerdo in real life

  1. 1On a farm

    El cerdo duerme en el corral.

    The pig sleeps in the pen.

    El cerdo as subject.

  2. 2Ordering food

    Quiero tacos de carne de cerdo.

    I want pork tacos.

    Carne de cerdo is pork.

  3. 3Pointing

    Ese cerdo es muy grande.

    That pig is very big.

    Ese cerdo points to one animal.

Mistakes English speakers make with cerdo

Incorrect: La cerdo come maíz.

Correct: El cerdo come maíz.

Cerdo is masculine. Use el cerdo. Cerda is the female.

Incorrect: Pido cerdo asado en el menú.

Correct: Pido carne de cerdo asada.

Menus usually say carne de cerdo for pork dishes.

Good to know

Cerdo is standard for the animal in Latin America. On plates you hear carne de cerdo. Some regions also say puerco; both are understood.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Choosing meat at a market

  1. ChatPal

    ¿Prefieres carne de cerdo o de res?

    Do you prefer pork or beef?

  2. You

    Carne de cerdo, por favor.

    Pork, please.

  3. ChatPal

    Hay un kilo fresco.

    There's a fresh kilo.

  4. You

    Perfecto. Lo llevo.

    Perfect. I'll take it.

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"Pig" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Pig" in Spanish

Is cerdo masculine or feminine?

Masculine: el cerdo. A sow is la cerda.

How do I say pork on a menu?

Carne de cerdo.

How do you pronounce cerdo?

SEHR-doh with stress on SEHR.

Is puerco the same as cerdo?

Often yes regionally. Cerdo is widely understood everywhere.

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  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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