aovar

To lay eggs — used for birds, insects, fish, and reptiles, close in meaning to poner huevos but more literary or zoological in register. Naturalists and older texts use aovar; everyday speech almost always says poner huevos instead.

• La tortuga aovó cerca de la orilla del río. — The turtle laid its eggs near the riverbank.
• Muchos insectos aovan sobre las hojas de las plantas. — Many insects lay their eggs on plant leaves.
• El ave aovó tres huevos en el nido esta primavera. — The bird laid three eggs in the nest this spring.

Using aovar in casual conversation about chickens or pets — a Spanish speaker would almost always say poner huevos; aovar belongs to naturalist or literary writing.

Often confused with ovar.