Catarina

[DailyWord]

This is a discussion thread for the Daily Spanish Word for October 22, 2008

catarina - feminine noun (la) - ladybug. Look up catarina in the dictionary

Las catarinas son insectos muy bonitos.
Ladybugs are very beautiful insects.

[Jessica]

Yes indeed Butterflies too Me gusta insectos Mi hermanos gustan mucho insectos

[poli]

Catarina may be a local term for ladybugs. In other countries mariquita is
used.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by jchen

Yes indeed Butterflies too Me gusta insectos Mi hermanos gustan mucho insectos

Me gustan los insectos.
A mis hermanos les gustan mucho los insectos.

[poli]

I just checked RAE, and catarina is not recognized by them. I think catarina is a mexicanismo.

[Rusty]

Yep, catarina is only used in Mexico, according to the dictionary I use.
Mariquita is used in a lot of countries, though, including those in Central America.

The same dictionary says you'll hear pataca in Columbia, chinita in Chile, San Antonio in Uruguay, and vaca de San Antón in Argentina. I can't speak for those countries.

[lblanco]

In Sonora Mexico where my mom is from, they call ladybugs conchitas. I guess it all depends on the region. )

[Planet hopper]

Mariquita in Spain, the word also means homosexual, not derogative

[Elaina]

I have heard the word cochinitas used for ladybugs

[Planet hopper]

Una marranica is one of those black tiny crawlers that would become a ball if u touch them...can't remember the english word :-S

Una cochinita, I don't recognise the word. Cochino (and derivatives) is a rather offensive word. Calling someone cochinita would be like `my dirty sweetheart'

Interesting

[poli]

Originally Posted by Planet hopper

Una marranica is one of those black tiny crawlers that would become a ball if u touch them...can't remember the english word :-S

Una cochinita, I don't recognise the word. Cochino (and derivatives) is a rather offensive word. Calling someone cochinita would be like `my dirty sweetheart'

Interesting

I think cochina means pig as in Bahia de Cochinas. There are lots of words for pig!:chancho cerdo cochino marrano. Any others?

I think a marranica is a millipede in English.

[Elaina]

I think "they" used the word cochinita because it is round and it might remind them of a little pig.

The adding of "ita" would make it a term of endearment as well as diminutive.

[Rusty]

The woodlouse (pill bug, sow bug, roly poly, and, where I grew up, potato bug) is the official name of the bug that rolls into a ball to protect itself. The Spanish call it cochinilla. The people in Argentina call it bicho bolita. There are probably other names for it.

There are many species of cochinilla. There is also a millipede, just slightly larger than the woodlouse, that rolls into a ball.

[Elaina]

Originally Posted by Rusty

The woodlouse (pill bug, sow bug, roly poly, and, where I grew up, potato bug) is the official name of the bug that rolls into a ball to protect itself. The Spanish call it conchinilla. The people in Argentina call it bicho bolita. There are probably other names for it.

There are many species of conchinilla. There is also a millipede, just slightly larger than the woodlouse, that rolls into a ball.

I think you mean cochinilla......and I agree with you I think that's the bug ElDanés is talking about.

[Tomisimo]

I must reprimand the DailyWord bot for including so many mexicanismos!

Speaking of mariquita, bonus points to anyone who can explain what "mariquita de la merced" means (without looking it up).

"Mariquita de la merced, tráeme todo que yo lo haré".

[CrOtALiTo]

Yes, we use the words Catarinas, Chochinilla, Escarabajo, it's are the names for the butterflies used in my country.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Elaina

I think you mean cochinilla......and I agree with you I think that's the bug ElDanés is talking about.

Yep. Sorry about that!

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

Yes, we use the words Catarinas, Chochinilla, Escarabajo, it's are the names for the butterflies used in my country.

Butterflies son mariposas.

[Jessica]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Me gustan los insectos.
A mis hermanos les gustan mucho los insectos.

oops. I was kinda rushing to answer this thread

[Elaina]

Originally Posted by Tomisimo

I must reprimand the DailyWord bot for including so many mexicanismos!

Speaking of mariquita, bonus points to anyone who can explain what "mariquita de la merced" means (without looking it up).

"Mariquita de la merced, tráeme todo que yo lo haré".

Can I cheat and look it up? I have no idea what this means!