BajaNomad

squirrel versus chipmunk

pauldavidmena - 10-10-2020 at 10:16 AM

It's that time of year in New England when both gray squirrels and chipmunks are gathering acorns for what could be a long winter. I knew that the Spanish word for "squirrel" was "ardilla", but looking up "chipmunk" in both SpanishDict.com and Google Translate, the same word is used for a very different animal. In Harper Collins Unabridged Spanish-English dictionary, "chipmunk" is translated "ardilla listada" - literally "striped squirrel". I don't recall seeing either in Baja - just jack rabbits the size of dogs - but does anyone know of a word other than "ardilla" for "chipmunk"?

AKgringo - 10-10-2020 at 10:20 AM

How about Alvin, Chip or Dale?

motoged - 10-10-2020 at 10:21 AM

:lol::lol::lol:

pauldavidmena - 10-10-2020 at 10:22 AM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
How about Alvin, Chip or Dale?


You forgot Simon and Theodore!

:lol::lol::lol:

DawnPatrol - 10-10-2020 at 11:37 AM

My SayHi translator says Ardilla for both Chipmunk & Squirrel for whatever thats worth

[Edited on 10-10-2020 by DawnPatrol]

pauldavidmena - 10-10-2020 at 11:44 AM

Quote: Originally posted by DawnPatrol  
My SayHi translator says Ardilla for both Chipmunk & Squirrel for whatever thats worth

[Edited on 10-10-2020 by DawnPatrol]


This must be similar to blueberry and cranberry, both of which I've seen translated "arándano".

BajaNomad - 10-10-2020 at 12:07 PM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipmunk

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamias

pauldavidmena - 10-10-2020 at 03:23 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
So, ardillas= squirrel and tamias= chipmunk !!??


It looks like tamias is the genus (as mentioned in the English-language Wikipedia article as well) but perhaps as a Latin word it's used in Spanish as well? It doesn't look like the critters are common in Mexico, so maybe a Spanish equivalent isn't necessary. Just curious on my part, since I see them all the time!

[Edited on 10-10-2020 by pauldavidmena]

pauldavidmena - 10-11-2020 at 07:42 AM

"Juancito" is certainly cute, but the critters around here have a very pronounced pair of black and white stripes on either side of their tiny bodies. It makes me wonder if it's a cousin - "Primo Juancito".

SFandH - 10-11-2020 at 08:34 AM

I have the most comprehensive English/Spanish dictionary I've ever seen. A very thick, hardcover 8.5 x 11 inch book with tiny print. Over 2000 pages.

"Ardilla" is it. No other names mentioned.

Plus I just asked a baja native, showing the above photo. The immediate response was "ardilla".

Here's the dictionary: https://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Spanish-Dictionary-Dictionarie...



[Edited on 10-11-2020 by SFandH]

SFandH - 10-11-2020 at 09:09 AM

Tamias is the name of the genus that includes chipmunks. It is not a Spanish name.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamias

Paulina - 10-11-2020 at 08:50 PM

My ranch friends call them "juancitos".

P>*)))>{

Paulina - 10-12-2020 at 12:34 PM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho  
Quote: Originally posted by Paulina  
My ranch friends call them "juancitos".

Cool, then it's not exclusive to BCS? Where are these friends located?



Rancho San Gregorio, BCN


P>*)))>{

pauldavidmena - 10-12-2020 at 12:39 PM

Our dog Tito (pictured in my avatar) calls them "fun to chase".

:biggrin:

pauldavidmena - 10-12-2020 at 12:56 PM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho  
Quote: Originally posted by Paulina  
Rancho San Gregorio, BCN

Thanks. Likely it's the whole peninsula, then. Which seems useful enough for this group of Baja-oriented Folks. :biggrin:

Paul, I must be confused: are you looking for what they're called in New England? :?:




I'm looking for what a chipmunk would be called in Mexico; or, what a Mexican might call one of the little critters running across my deck dozens of times a day. I feel like we've gathered a pretty good cross-section of answers. Mil gracias!

[Edited on 10-12-2020 by pauldavidmena]