musaraña

Spanish

Etymology

Inherited from Latin mūs arāneus (literally “spider mouse”) (compare French musaraigne) because the bite of some shrews can be venomous. Ending influenced by Spanish araña (“spider”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /musaˈɾaɲa/ [mu.saˈɾa.ɲa]
• Rhymes: -aɲa
• Syllabification: mu‧sa‧ra‧ña

Noun

musaraña f (plural musarañas)

1. shrew

   Synonym: musgaño

2. (by extension) vermin; small animal

Derived terms

• mirar las musarañas

 

Further reading

• “musaraña”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014