oca (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

Noun

Phonetic Transcription

/ˈoka/

Translation Options into English

• Goose (in reference to the bird)
• A type of root vegetable, also known as "oca" or "oxalis tuberosa"
• In some contexts, it can also refer to a potato-like tuber.

Meaning and Usage

In Spanish, "oca" primarily refers to the bird known as a goose, which is often associated with water and domesticated for its meat and feathers. In agricultural contexts, "oca" refers to an edible tuber that is cultivated in the Andean regions of South America.

The word is more commonly used in written contexts related to agriculture, cuisine, and zoology, but it can appear in oral speech when discussing these topics.

Example Sentences

1. La oca nadaba en el lago durante la tarde.

2. The goose swam in the lake during the afternoon.

3. En la feria probé un delicioso plato preparado con oca.

4. At the fair, I tried a delicious dish made with oca.

5. La oca es un animal migratorio que se mueve en bandadas.

6. The goose is a migratory animal that moves in flocks.

Idiomatic Expressions

The word "oca" is not commonly found in widely recognized idiomatic expressions, but in some regions, informal sayings may include references to geese or the act of "going like a goose" which implies awkwardness or clumsiness. Here are some examples:

1. "Ir como una oca" (go like a goose)
2. El niño corre como una oca, no sabe cómo controlar sus piernas.

3. The boy runs like a goose; he doesn't know how to control his legs.

4. "Hacer el ganso" (to act foolishly)

5. No hagas el ganso en clase, concéntrate en los estudios.

6. Don't act foolishly in class, focus on your studies.

7. "Cargar la oca" (to carry a burden)

8. Tienes que aprender a cargar la oca de tus responsabilidades.
9. You need to learn to carry the burden of your responsibilities.

Etymology

The word "oca" comes from the Latin word "avicula", which is a diminutive form of "avis," meaning bird. The etymology reflects both the avian nature of the word and its usage related to fowls in general.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms: - Ganso (for goose) - Tuber (referring to the edible variety)

Antonyms: - Patito (for duckling) - No hay un antónimo exacto en el contexto de las plantas; "fruta" podría ser considerado como una categoría diferente.

This provides a comprehensive overview of the word "oca" in the Spanish language across different contexts, including its meanings, usages, and related idioms.