Spanish
Vocab Builder for commonly used words in Spanish.
angustia
The word 'angustia' in Spanish can be translated into English as 'distress'. It is a noun that refers to a state of extreme worry, suffering, or pain. It is used to indicate a deep sense of sadness, despair, or anxiety. For example, one might use 'angustia' to describe feelings prompted by a serious personal problem or an urgent crisis situation.
anillo
The Spanish word 'anillo' translates to 'ring' in English. It can refer to a piece of jewelry traditionally worn on fingers, or circular objects or outlines. It can also refer to groups or gatherings of people or objects forming a circle. Like in English, the word 'anillo' can have a variety of uses in different contexts, although it is commonly associated with jewelry.
animado
Animado translates to 'lively'. It is used to describe someone who is full of energy and life. For example, 'El niño es animado' means 'The child is lively'.
Example sentences with animado →animado
The Spanish word 'animado' translates to 'animate' in English. This term is mainly used in two contexts. One use is to refer to something that's lively or enthusiastic, typically used when describing people or the atmosphere of an event. The second use refers to the process of making inanimate objects or drawings appear to move in visual media like movies or television, similar to 'animated' or 'animation' in English.
animal
The word 'animal' in Spanish is also 'animal', pronounced slightly differently. In Spanish, the word is used to refer to any member of the animal kingdom, including humans. The word can be used in various contexts, just like in English, and can refer to both wild and domesticated creatures.
Example sentences with animal →animal de carga
The Spanish term 'animal de carga' translates into English as 'beast of burden'. It is used to refer to an animal, usually a large, strong one such as a horse or an ox, that is used for carrying or pulling heavy loads. The term 'beast of burden' demonstrates the role these animals have traditionally been used for in terms of manual labour and transport.
Example sentences with animal de carga →animal de compañía
The Spanish phrase 'animal de compañía' translates to 'companion animal' in English. This can refer to any domesticated or tamed animal kept mainly for a person's company, safety or entertainment rather than as a working animal, livestock, or laboratory animal. Popular companion animals are often noted for their attractive appearances, intelligence, and relatable personalities, and they can include species from various groups such as dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, and even some reptiles and fish.
Example sentences with animal de compañía →animal doméstico
The Spanish phrase 'animal doméstico' translates to 'pet animal' in English. It refers to animals that are tamed and kept at home for companionship or pleasure, rather than for work or food. 'Animal doméstico' covers a wide range of animals, including the traditional cats and dogs, but also birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, and more exotic pets like reptiles and insects. It is important to note that these animals are not wild but have been bred or raised by humans for many generations.
Example sentences with animal doméstico →animal herbívoro
The Spanish phrase 'animal herbívoro' translates to 'herbivorous animal' in English. This term is used to describe any animal that primarily eats plant materials. Herbivorous animals can range from small insects and birds to large mammals like elephants. They play a crucial role in the food chain, helping to control plant populations and serving as a food source for carnivorous animals.
Example sentences with animal herbívoro →animal invertebrado
The term 'animal invertebrado' in Spanish refers to what is known as an 'invertebrate animal' in English. Invertebrates are animals that neither possess nor develop a vertebral column, derived from the notochord. This includes all animals apart from the subphylum Vertebrata. Common examples of invertebrates include insects, crabs, lobsters and their kin, snails, clams, octopuses and their kin, starfish, sea-urchins and their kin, and worms.
Example sentences with animal invertebrado →animal marino
The Spanish term 'animal marino' translates to 'marine animal' in English. It refers to animals that live in the ocean, and includes a wide range of creatures, from tiny plankton to the largest whale. These animals have adapted in different ways to survive in the marine environment, and they form an important part of the ocean ecosystem. Marine animals can be found in all parts of the ocean, from the cold depths to the warm, shallow tropical seas.
Example sentences with animal marino →animal omnívoro
The word 'animal omnívoro' is Spanish for 'omnivore animal'. An omnivore is an animal or person that eats both plants and meat. This term is often used in biology and ecology to classify species according to their diet. The ability to consume both plant and animal matter is considered a survival advantage in many ecosystems, as it provides a wider range of food choices and adaptation possibilities.
Example sentences with animal omnívoro →animal salvaje
The Spanish term 'animal salvaje' corresponds to the English term 'wild animal'. This refers to all fauna that have not been domesticated by humans, and they typically live in natural, non-urbanized areas. These could include a vast variety of species, like lions, wolves, elephants or sharks, among others.
Example sentences with animal salvaje →animal terrestre
The Spanish term 'animal terrestre' is translated into English as 'land animal'. This term is commonly used in scientific and environmental contexts and refers to animals that live predominantly or entirely on land in contrast to marine animals that live predominantly in water. 'Animal terrestre' could include a vast range of creatures from different species such as mammals, birds, reptiles and insects among others.
Example sentences with animal terrestre →animal vertebrado
The term 'animal vertebrado' in Spanish translates to 'vertebrate animal' in English. These are animals that possess a backbone or spinal column, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. This classification is a fundamental division within the animal kingdom. Understanding and using this term can aid in discussions about biological and zoological concepts.
Example sentences with animal vertebrado →animal volador
The term 'animal volador' in Spanish translates to 'flying animal' in English. This could refer to any animal that is capable of flight, such as birds, bats, or insects. The species of the creature isn't specified, only that it has the ability to fly.
Example sentences with animal volador →aniversario
The word 'aniversario' in Spanish translates to 'anniversary' in English. This is primarily used to mark a significant event that occurred on the same date, in a previous year. The event could relate to a wide range of happenings, for instance, a marriage, a birthday, or the founding of an organization. 'Aniversario' is often used in celebratory contexts and may often involve ceremonies, parties or other forms of special recognition.
año
The Spanish translation for 'year' is 'año'. It is used in the exact same context as in English, to reference a period of 365 or 366 days, depending on whether it is a common year or a leap year. For example, 'El año tiene cuatro estaciones: primavera, verano, otoño e invierno' means 'The year has four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter'.
Example sentences with año →año luz
The term 'año luz' in Spanish translates to 'light-year' in English. It is a unit of astronomical distance equivalent to the distance that light travels in one year, which is approximately 5.88 trillion miles or 9.46 trillion kilometers. This concept is often used in astronomy to describe vast distances between stars and galaxies.
Example sentences with año luz →anorak
An 'anorak' in Spanish means the same as in English. It is a type of heavy jacket with a hood, typically waterproof, designed to be worn in outdoor activities or in cold weather scenarios. Despite its English name, it's a word used globally and understood by Spanish speakers. It's perfect for those wet or snowy days and for winter sports like skiing or snowboarding.
Example sentences with anorak →anorexia
Anorexia, in Spanish, also pertains to the same condition as in English. It stands for a psychological and possibly life-threatening eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. The person afflicted with this disorder experiences an intense fear of gaining weight and has a distorted body image, which enforces restrictive eating and often excessive exercising.
Example sentences with anorexia →antena
The Spanish word 'antena' translates to 'antenna' in English. An antenna is a device with a particular shape, used to send and receive television or radio signals. It converts electromagnetic waves into electrical power and vice versa. In a broader context, the term is used in biology to refer to the sensory appendages on the heads of insects. Therefore, when one comes across the word 'antena' in Spanish, its meaning can be inferred based on the context in which it is used.
antena parabólica
A 'antena parabólica' is a Spanish term that translates to 'parabolic antenna' in English. It refers to a high-gain type of radio, television, or radar receiving antenna which functions by using a parabolic reflector, a curved surface that has the form of a parabola, to direct the radio waves to a focal point. The main purpose of this type of antenna is to collect and focus weak signals into a strong signal to allow for better reception in a specific direction. It can be typically found in installations that require a large amount of signal gain, such as satellite television receivers.
antepasados
The Spanish word 'antepasados' translates to 'ancestors' in English. Ancestors are people from whom other people are descended, especially those more remote than a grandparent; they are our forefathers, predecessors or foregone generations. The term highlights a sequence of family descent and bloodline. In more general sense, 'antepasados' can also refer to pervious or ancient members of a community, species or a group of any individuals.
anterior
In Spanish, 'anterior' is used to refer to something that was before or earlier, similar to 'former' in English. It can also refer to a position in space meaning 'in front of' or 'before'. However, when referring to a former job or position, 'ex-' is typically used.
Example sentences with anterior →antes
The Spanish 'antes' is used in sentences similar to how 'before' is used in English. This word can be used both in the context of time, such as 'I eat before I workout', translating to 'Yo como antes de hacer ejercicio', and also in a comparison, such as 'I prefer coffee before tea', translating to 'Prefiero el café antes que el té'.
Example sentences with antes →antibiótico
The Spanish word 'antibiótico' translates to 'antibiotic' in English. Antibiotics are medicines that help stop infections caused by bacteria. They do this by killing the bacteria or by keeping them from copying themselves or reproducing. The term 'antibiotic' comes from the Greek words 'anti' meaning 'against' and 'bios' meaning 'life'. The word 'antibiótico' shares a similar etymology in Spanish, and is used in healthcare and everyday language.
Example sentences with antibiótico →anticiclón
The term 'anticiclón' in Spanish translates to 'anticyclone' in English. An anticyclone is a weather phenomenon characterized by clear, calm conditions caused by a large-scale circulation of winds around a central region of high atmospheric pressure. These typically bring about fair weather conditions as the high pressure inhibits the formation of clouds.
Example sentences with anticiclón →anticipación
The Spanish word 'anticipación' is used in the same context as the English word 'anticipation', it refers to the action of expecting or predicting. It can be utilized in various scenarios, from expressing the excitement about an upcoming event to signifying the prediction of future events.
Example sentences with anticipación →anticipar una jugada
The Spanish phrase 'anticipar una jugada' translates to 'anticipate a move' in English. It is often used in the context of games or sports, but can also refer generally to predicting or expecting a certain action or event to occur. This phrase can be broken down into 'anticipar', which means to anticipate, and 'una jugada', which means a move. When combined, they encourage strategic thinking and foresight.