tortuga
nounBeginnerHigh frequency
What does “tortuga” mean in English?
turtle, tortoise
Example sentences
La tortuga camina muy lento.
The tortoise walks very slowly.
Las tortugas viven muchos años.
Turtles live for many years.
Vamos a paso de tortuga.
We're going at a snail's pace.
How to use it
Tortuga means 'turtle' or 'tortoise' (feminine — la tortuga). Plural tortugas. Slow-moving, hence the idiom 'a paso de tortuga' (at a snail's pace).
Common mistake
Spanish doesn't distinguish 'turtle' (sea) from 'tortoise' (land) lexically — tortuga covers both. Use tortuga marina for sea turtle if needed.
Topics
Related Beginner words
Reference
This entry’s teaching guidance follows A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish (Butt, Benjamin & Moreira Rodríguez, Routledge), 1.