xílgaro

Galician

Xílgaro

Alternative forms

• cílgaro, sílgaro, xírgaro

Etymology

Obscure. Related to Spanish jilguero, which derives from an older silguero; perhaps from sirgo (“silk”), but the suffix -aro is usually found in pre-Latin words. Compare also Portuguese pintassilgo.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈʃilɣɐɾʊ]

Noun

xílgaro m (plural xílgaros)

1. goldfinch, Eurasian goldfinch, European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)

   Synonyms: barroso, picacardos, pintasilgo, xilgueiro

   • 1853, Juan Manuel Pintos, A Gaita Gallega:

     un sinfín de paxaros ben cantores
     reiseñores o xílgaro e o sirín

     an endless number of singing birds:
     nightingales, the goldfinch and the serin

References

• “xílgaro” in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega, SLI - ILGA 2006–2013.
• “xílgaro” in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega. Santiago: ILG.
• “xílgaro” in Álvarez, Rosario (coord.): Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués, Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega.