Chicharra

/tʃɪˈtʃɑːrə/ noun

Definition

A cicada or large cricket-like insect that produces loud chirping sounds, found in Spanish-speaking regions.

Etymology

From Spanish chicharra, likely from Latin cicada through sound imitation; the -arra ending is characteristic of Spanish nouns.

Kelly Says

The Spanish word chicharra brilliantly mimics the sound these insects make—languages worldwide use onomatopoeia for insects (English 'cicada' vs Spanish 'chicharra'), showing how differently we hear the same sound.

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