Caca

Caca is a Spanish colloquial noun meaning feces or excrement, typically used in informal speech or among children. It functions as a playful or childish term and contrasts with more formal terms such as heces, excremento, or deposición. The word is common across Spain and many Latin American countries, though its acceptability depends on region and context.

Etymology and cognates: The term derives from the Latin cacāre, meaning to defecate, and has cognates in other Romance languages, notably Italian cacca and French caca. In English-speaking contexts, “caca” is sometimes used as a loanword or childish equivalent of “poop.”

Usage: People commonly say “hacer caca” to refer to defecation, especially when talking to or about young children. “La caca” refers to feces. Because it is informal and childlike, it can be considered crude or humorous in adult conversation and is usually avoided in formal writing, medical, or professional contexts. Alternatives include “popó” or “heces.”

In culture: The term appears in children's literature, songs, cartoons, and potty-training discussions, where its playful tone helps ease the topic. It can also be used for humor in media targeted at young audiences.