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rata

rat

noun RRAH-tah Less Common

Also means

miser (colloquial)

Usage Note

Rata is the common rat (Rattus spp.) and is feminine. Colloquially, calling someone a rata means they are a cheapskate or miser, a sense widespread across Spain and Latin America. The diminutive ratita is used affectionately for a small mouse-like creature. Note that ratón (mouse) is a separate, smaller animal — learners should not conflate the two.

Examples

"Encontraron una rata en el sótano del edificio."

Natural Translation

They found a rat in the basement of the building.

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