dinosaurio

dinosaur

noun dee-noh-SOW-ryoh Rare

Origin: Greek deinos (terrible) + sauros (lizard)

Usage Note

Dinosaurio is masculine: el dinosaurio. Beyond the literal sense, it is used colloquially to describe an outdated person, institution, or technology — similar to calling something 'a dinosaur' in English. The word entered Spanish from scientific Latin in the 19th century and its etymology is transparent from the Greek components deino- and -saurio.

Examples

"Los dinosaurios se extinguieron hace millones de años."

Natural Translation

Dinosaurs went extinct millions of years ago.

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