vaqueriza
Lemma Details
Translation: cowshed; cattle pen; cow barn; cowhouse
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: Derived from 'vaca' (cow), which comes from Latin 'vacca' (cow). The suffix '-eriza' indicates a place where animals are kept or raised. This follows a pattern seen in other Spanish words like 'caballeriza' (stable) from 'caballo' (horse). The English cognate would be words containing 'cow' such as 'cowshed' or 'cowhouse', though the construction method differs between the languages.
Commonality: 30%
Guessability: 40%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think 'vaca' (cow) + place = 'vaqueriza' (place for cows)
- Similar to 'vaquero' (cowboy) but for the place, not the person
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
This term is more common in rural areas of Spanish-speaking countries where cattle raising is practiced. In modern urban contexts, it might be less frequently used except in agricultural or historical contexts.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'vaqueriza' refers specifically to the building or enclosure where cows are kept, 'vaquería' can refer to a dairy farm or the business of raising cattle.
Confused word:
Mi tío es dueño de una vaquería que produce leche orgánica.
My uncle owns a dairy farm that produces organic milk.
Notes: In some regions, these terms might be used interchangeably, but technically they have different meanings.
Mnemonic: 'Vaqueriza' ends with '-iza' like 'plaza' (place) - it's the place for cows; 'vaquería' ends with '-ía' like 'compañía' (company) - it's the business of cows.