spirit animal
1
7.5
- noun
- /ˈspɪrɪt ˈænɪməl/
- Slang
:
animal espiritual
- When I saw her dancing I thought she was a spirit animal for unapologetic joy and freedom.
Bad ass super cool dangerous spirit animal.
- Bad ass super cool dangerous spirit animal.
Examples
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My spirit animal is a sloth because I love to relax.
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The tiny cactus on my desk is my spirit animal—resilient, low-maintenance, and stubbornly cheerful.
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That playlist is my spirit animal, perfectly capturing the restless mood I've had all evening.
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Do you have a spirit animal that represents you?
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Beyonce's fierce attitude makes her my spirit animal during tough times.
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Many fans consider Oprah Winfrey their spirit animal because of her inspirational journey.
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When I listen to that song, I feel like it captures my feelings and becomes my spirit animal.
Synonyms
A person or object that stands for an idea with deeper meaning
How Representative
Surface Forms
Morphology
spirit + animal
The phrase combines 'spirit' (essence, character) with 'animal' (creature), so a learner who knows both words can plausibly infer an animal that represents someone's essence or character. However, the modern informal extension (applying to people, objects, songs, moods) and cultural nuances make the exact pragmatic uses and broadened senses not fully predictable to a B1 learner without exposure.
Etymology
Spirit animal is also used today in a playful, modern way on the internet when someone says a song, object, or person is their spirit animal because it perfectly matches their mood or style. So now it often means 'something that strongly represents your mood or personality'.