Noun
/ɡa.liˈne.ɾo/
The word gallinero refers to a structure or enclosure where chickens (gallinas) are kept, commonly designed for their safety and comfortable living. In general usage, it is predominantly utilized in both oral and written Spanish, with a slightly higher frequency in agricultural or domestic contexts.
In colloquial Argentine Spanish, the term can carry other connotations depending on the context, such as referring to a place that is disorganized or messy, akin to saying it's in disarray. However, this alternative use is less common.
El gallinero necesita una buena limpieza antes de que lleguen las aves.
The chicken coop needs a good cleaning before the birds arrive.
Asegúrate de que el gallinero esté cerrado por la noche para proteger a las gallinas.
Make sure the henhouse is closed at night to protect the hens.
Compramos un gallinero nuevo para nuestras gallinas que son más grandes.
We bought a new chicken coop for our hens that are larger.
While gallinero itself is not commonly found in numerous idiomatic expressions, it can be a component in some phrases that evoke the image or characteristics of a henhouse, particularly regarding disorder or chaos.
"La situación del equipo es como un gallinero; nadie sabe quién está a cargo."
The team's situation is like a chicken coop; no one knows who is in charge.
Hacer un gallinero
"En la fiesta, los niños hicieron un gallinero con los juegos desordenados."
At the party, the kids made a mess like a chicken coop with the scattered games.
Estar en el gallinero
The term gallinero comes from the Spanish word gallina, which means "hen" or "chicken," combined with the suffix -ero, which denotes a place associated with a particular activity or thing. Thus, it literally translates to "a place for chickens."
Synonyms: - Cobertizo para gallinas (Hen shelter) - Avestrucera (Less common, specifically for ostriches)
Antonyms: - En libertad (In freedom, referring to chickens not kept in a coop) - Campo abierto (Open field)