Skip to the word

Added 10 October 2026

cockroach

/ˈkɑkɹoʊt͡ʃ/ noun

In Latin: blatta Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about cockroach at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Any of numerous chiefly nocturnal insects; some are domestic pests.

Origin

From Spanish cucaracha, from cuca (“butterfly caterpillars”), of onomatopoeic origin; see also Greek κόκκυξ (kókkux) and Late Latin cucus. Influenced, by means of folk etymology, by cock and roach. Doublet of cucaracha.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word