Cockroach in Spanish: How to Say Cucaracha, Curiana and More

Cockroach in Spanish is la cucaracha — one of the first words most expats learn, usually under less-than-ideal circumstances. It’s a feminine noun throughout Spain, and the one pest word almost guaranteed to come up whether you’re renting an apartment, checking into a hotel, or shopping for gel bait.

Cucaracha and Curiana: Regional Variation

Cucaracha is understood and used everywhere in Spain, but in Andalucia you will regularly hear curiana for exactly the same insect, especially for the small, fast German cockroach that scatters when a kitchen light switches on. It’s not a different species — it’s a regional synonym, the kind of vocabulary variation that shows up more in southern Spain generally. If a neighbour or landlord in Seville, Málaga or Córdoba says curiana, they mean cockroach; use cucaracha if you’re unsure which term is locally standard, since it’s understood nationwide without exception.

Pronunciation

Cucaracha is koo-ka-RA-cha — four syllables, with the stress falling on the third: -RA-. Every letter is pronounced in Spanish, so don’t swallow the middle syllables the way English speakers sometimes reduce longer words. Curiana follows the same logic: koo-ree-A-na, stress on the third syllable.

Cucaracha Alemana, Americana, Oriental

When identifying which species you’re dealing with — relevant for choosing treatment — Spanish uses the same descriptive pattern as English. Cucaracha alemana (German cockroach, Blattella germanica) is the small, light-brown, fast-breeding indoor species behind most kitchen infestations. Cucaracha americana (American cockroach, Periplaneta americana), also called cucaracha de alcantarilla (“sewer cockroach”), is the large reddish-brown species that comes up through drains. Cucaracha oriental (Oriental cockroach, Blatta orientalis) is the dark, slow-moving species associated with damp basements and older drainage. Full identification photos and treatment advice are in our cockroaches in Spain guide.

The Song

If you’ve mentioned “cucaracha” to a Spaniard and been met with a knowing smile or a hummed tune, that’s “La Cucaracha” — a traditional Mexican folk song made internationally famous during the Mexican Revolution, not a Spanish song. Most Spaniards recognise the melody but associate it firmly with Mexico, not with their own pest problems. It’s a fun icebreaker, not useful vocabulary.

Phrases for a Hotel or Landlord

• I’ve seen a cockroach in the room — He visto una cucaracha en la habitación
• Can you change my room, please? — ¿Pueden cambiarme de habitación, por favor?
• There are cockroaches in the kitchen — Hay cucarachas en la cocina
• They’re coming from the drains — Salen por los desagües
• We need pest control treatment — Necesitamos una desinsectación
• Do you have cockroach gel/bait? — ¿Tiene gel/cebo para cucarachas?
• Who is responsible for paying? — ¿Quién es responsable del pago?

A single cockroach sighting in a Spanish hotel or apartment is common given the climate and does not automatically indicate poor hygiene — but a pattern of repeated sightings is worth reporting in writing.

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Written by James Thornton

Founder & Lead Writer

British expat living in Málaga since 2019. Researched 200+ pest control cases across 16 Spanish regions.

Reviewed by Carlos Ruiz Martín

ROESBA-certified (Spain's Official Pest Control Registry). DDD specialist. Member of ANECPLA.