animal
Lemma Details
Translation: animal; beast; creature
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin 'animalis' meaning 'having breath' or 'living being', derived from 'anima' meaning 'breath' or 'soul'. The English word 'animal' shares the same Latin root, making it a direct cognate. The concept of 'anima' as the essence of life connects to many philosophical traditions about what distinguishes living beings.
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 95%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- It's spelled and pronounced almost identically to the English word 'animal'
- Think of 'anima' (soul) + 'al' (relating to) = a being with a soul or life force
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, 'animal' can sometimes be used as an insult to describe someone who is crude or uncivilized. It's also commonly used in expressions and sayings that compare human behavior to animal characteristics.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'animal' refers to a living creature, 'ánimo' means 'spirit', 'mood', or 'encouragement'.
Confused word:
Necesito levantar el ánimo después de un día difícil.
I need to lift my spirits after a difficult day.
Notes: Both words share the Latin root 'anima' (soul/breath), but evolved to refer to different concepts.
Mnemonic: 'Animal' has an 'l' at the end for 'living creature', while 'ánimo' ends with 'o' for 'optimism' or 'outlook'.
Explanation: 'Animal' refers to a living creature, while 'alma' means 'soul'.
Confused word:
Ella canta con toda su alma.
She sings with all her soul.
Notes: Both words are connected conceptually through the Latin 'anima' (soul/breath/life force).
Mnemonic: 'Alma' is the essence or 'soul' that was believed to animate an 'animal'.