How To Say Cicada In Spanish

So, there I was, strolling through the park the other day, when suddenly, I heard this deafening chorus of... well, I wasn't quite sure what it was. It sounded like a thousand tiny, mechanical metronomes had been let loose in the trees. I pulled out my phone, ready to call in a potential alien invasion, when I realized, "Oh, right. It's cicada season."

Now, if you're like me, you might be wondering, "How do you say 'cicada' in Spanish?" I mean, it's not like we learn that in high school Spanish class, right? We were too busy trying to figure out how to order a burrito without asking for extra guacamole.

Let's Get Down to Business

Alright, so you're walking down the street in Spain, and you hear this cacophony of... well, let's face it, it sounds like a bunch of tiny, broken instruments. You want to sound like a local, so you turn to your friend and say, "¿Qué es ese ruido?" (What's that noise?)

And your friend, being the helpful soul they are, says, "Son cigarras."

And There You Have It

Cigarras. That's how you say 'cicadas' in Spanish. Easy, right? Now, you might be wondering, "Why didn't they just call them 'cicadas' too?" Well, my friend, that's a question for the ages. Maybe they ran out of 'c's, or maybe they just liked the way 'cigarras' rolled off the tongue. Who knows?

But hey, now you know. And not only that, but you can impress your Spanish-speaking friends with your newfound knowledge. Just don't ask them to translate 'cicada killer wasp' for you. Some things are best left unspoken.

How Do You Say Cicada In Spanish

Bonus Round: A Little History Lesson

You know, cicadas have been around for a long time. Like, a really long time. We're talking millions of years here. And the Spanish, they've been around for a while too. So, it's no surprise that they've got their own name for these little critters.

In fact, the word 'cigarra' comes from the Latin 'cicada', which comes from the Greek 'κικκαδᾶ', which means 'keening' or 'wailing'. And that, my friends, is why cicadas sound like a bunch of tiny, broken instruments. It's all about the etymology.

So, the next time you hear that symphony of... well, let's face it, it's still not a very pleasant sound... you can smile and say, "Ah, cigarras. The music of summer." And then you can go inside and turn on some actual music to drown them out.