Noun
/eleˈfante/
The word "elefante" refers to a large mammals known for their trunk, tusks, and large ears. Elephants are typically associated with wisdom, strength, and are often found in African and Asian habitats. In the Spanish language, “elefante” can be used both in literal contexts—referring to the animal itself—and in metaphoric or idiomatic expressions.
Frequency of use tends to be higher in oral speech due to references in everyday conversations, children's stories, and wildlife documentaries, but it is also found in written contexts like literature, scientific texts, and environmental discussions.
El elefante es el animal terrestre más grande del mundo.
(The elephant is the largest land animal in the world.)
Vimos un elefante en el zoológico durante nuestra visita.
(We saw an elephant at the zoo during our visit.)
Los elefantes son conocidos por su memoria excepcional.
(Elephants are known for their exceptional memory.)
While "elefante" does not have a wide array of idiomatic expressions in Spanish, it is used in a few notable phrases:
Tener memoria de elefante.
(To have the memory of an elephant.)
Meaning: To have a very good memory.
Example: Mi abuelo tiene memoria de elefante; recuerda todo desde su infancia.
(My grandfather has the memory of an elephant; he remembers everything from his childhood.)
Meterse en la habitación como un elefante en una cristalería.
(To walk into the room like an elephant in a china shop.)
Meaning: To behave clumsily or disruptively in a sensitive situation.
Example: Cuando llegó a la reunión y empezó a hablar sin tacto, se metió en la habitación como un elefante en una cristalería.
(When he arrived at the meeting and started speaking tactlessly, he walked into the room like an elephant in a china shop.)
Un elefante en la sala.
(An elephant in the room.)
Meaning: A major issue that everyone is aware of but nobody wants to talk about.
Example: El problema económico es un elefante en la sala que necesitamos abordar.
(The economic problem is an elephant in the room that we need to address.)
The word “elefante” comes from the Latin “elephas, elephantis,” which in turn comes from the Greek "ἐλέφας" (elephas), meaning elephant. The origin can be traced further back to the ancient Egyptian terms related to the creature, reflecting its longstanding prominence in human culture and awareness.
Synonyms: - None commonly used in the same context, as "elefante" is a specific term for the species.
Antonyms: - There are no direct antonyms in terms of species, as the term describes a particular animal. However, it could be contrasted with smaller animals (e.g., "ratón" for mouse) in discussions about size.