a nosotras
Lemma Details
Translation: to us; for us
Part of Speech: prepositional pronoun
Etymology: This prepositional phrase combines the preposition 'a' (to, for) with the feminine plural pronoun 'nosotras' (we, us). The preposition 'a' comes from Latin 'ad' meaning 'to, toward', while 'nosotras' derives from Latin 'nos' (we, us) with the feminine ending '-otras' added to specify gender. Spanish distinguishes gender in the first-person plural pronoun ('nosotros' for masculine or mixed groups, 'nosotras' for exclusively feminine groups), unlike English 'us' which is gender-neutral.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 60%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- 'Nosotras' sounds like 'nose-OH-tras' - imagine a group of women pointing to their noses saying 'Oh! This is for us!'
- The 'a' in Spanish often corresponds to 'to' in English, so 'a nosotras' = 'to us'
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, the explicit use of gender in pronouns reflects the importance of gender distinctions in the language. 'A nosotras' specifically refers to a group of women or girls, including the speaker. This gender specificity is maintained throughout the grammar system.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'A nosotras' is used exclusively for groups of females, while 'a nosotros' is used for all-male groups or mixed groups of males and females.
This word:
A nosotras nos invitaron a la fiesta de mujeres.
They invited us (females) to the women's party.
Confused word:
A nosotros nos invitaron a la reunión.
They invited us (males or mixed group) to the meeting.
Notes: In Spanish, when referring to a mixed group of males and females, the masculine form 'nosotros' is used, even if there is only one male in the group.
Mnemonic: 'Nosotras' ends in 'as' like 'chicas' (girls), while 'nosotros' ends in 'os' like 'chicos' (boys).
Explanation: 'A nosotras' is a prepositional phrase that emphasizes or clarifies who is receiving the action, while 'nos' is a direct or indirect object pronoun that replaces 'a nosotras' in most contexts.
Confused word:
Nos dieron un regalo.
They gave us a gift.
Notes: Often both forms appear together for emphasis: 'Nos dieron a nosotras los mejores asientos' (They gave us the best seats).
Mnemonic: Think of 'nos' as the short version and 'a nosotras' as the long, emphatic version.