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ave

bird

noun AH-beh Less Common

Origin: From Latin avis (bird).

Usage Note

Ave is a formal or literary synonym for pájaro; in everyday speech pájaro is more common for small birds, while ave is standard in biological, culinary, and formal contexts. Although feminine, in the singular it takes el (el ave) because it begins with a stressed a-, but the plural is las aves. In cooking, aves de corral means poultry.

Examples

"El ave voló sobre el lago."

Natural Translation

The bird flew over the lake.

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