Lael logo

gallina means chicken — a common term in Funny Words. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: November 10, 2025

😆 Funny Words

gallina

noun • /[gah-YEE-nah]/

chicken

Example:

Eres una gallina, no saltaste.

You’re a chicken, you didn’t jump.

🧠 What does gallina mean?

A 'gallina' is a female chicken, commonly known as a hen. In Spanish, it specifically refers to the adult female bird that lays eggs. Beyond its literal meaning, 'gallina' is frequently used colloquially to describe a person who is cowardly or easily frightened, similar to calling someone a 'chicken' in English. This figurative use is very common and widely understood. It is important to distinguish 'gallina' from 'pollo', which refers to chicken meat, and 'gallo', which is a rooster.

📚 Extra examples

  • Las gallinas del corral ponen huevos frescos todas las mañanas.
    The hens in the coop lay fresh eggs every morning.
  • No seas una gallina, no hay nada que temer en la oscuridad.
    Don't be a chicken, there's nothing to fear in the dark.
  • La película de terror me puso la piel de gallina.
    The horror movie gave me goosebumps.

💡 Did You Know?

An interesting expression in Spanish is 'ponerse la piel de gallina', which literally translates to 'to get chicken skin'. This is the direct equivalent of the English phrase 'to get goosebumps', used to describe the skin's reaction to cold or fear. While English refers to geese, Spanish refers to chickens to describe the same phenomenon.

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "gallina"

Synonyms: cobarde, miedoso, asustadizo
Opposites: valiente, audaz, valeroso

🔍 See more funny words words

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'chicken' in Spanish?
For a live female chicken (hen), the word is 'gallina'. For chicken meat, the word is 'pollo'. The male chicken (rooster) is 'gallo'.
How do you pronounce 'gallina' in Spanish?
The pronunciation is /ga-LLI-na/. The 'll' is typically pronounced like the 'y' in the English word 'yes'.
How do you use 'gallina' in a sentence?
A common example is: 'Mi abuela tiene varias gallinas en su granja.' This means, 'My grandmother has several hens on her farm.'
What is the English translation of 'gallina'?
The primary translation is 'hen'. It can also be translated as 'chicken' when referring to the live female bird. Figuratively, it translates to 'coward' or 'chicken'.
Does 'gallina' change for gender or number?
'Gallina' is a feminine noun. Its masculine counterpart is 'gallo' (rooster). The plural form is 'gallinas'.
Is 'gallina' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, 'gallina' is a very common word used in both its literal sense for the animal and its figurative sense to describe a coward.
Does 'gallina' have slang or double meanings?
Yes, the most prominent double meaning is 'coward'. Additionally, the popular expression 'piel de gallina' literally means 'chicken skin' and is the Spanish equivalent of 'goosebumps'.
Is 'gallina' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
No, the word 'gallina' and its figurative meaning of 'coward' are used consistently and are universally understood across the Spanish-speaking world.

📱 Download the App

Get reminders · Save favorites · Share words

Lael App Logo

Lael: Spanish Word of the Day

Download on the App Store