base
Lemma Details
Translation: base; foundation; basis; groundwork; pedestal
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin 'basis' meaning 'foundation', which came from Greek 'βάσις' (basis) meaning 'step, pedestal'. The English word 'base' shares the same Latin origin, making it a direct cognate. The concept of something that supports or forms the bottom part of a structure is preserved in both languages.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 90%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
La educación es la base del desarrollo.
Education is the foundation of development.
Construyeron la casa sobre una base sólida.
They built the house on a solid foundation.
Esta teoría tiene una base científica.
This theory has a scientific basis.
Estados Unidos tiene una base militar en ese país.
The United States has a military base in that country.
Mnemonics
- It's spelled and pronounced almost identically to the English word 'base'
- Think of a baseball 'base' as the foundation for scoring runs
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish, 'base' is used in many contexts similar to English, including mathematics, military, sports, and metaphorical uses. It's a fundamental concept in many fields and everyday language.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Base' is a noun meaning 'foundation' or 'basis', while 'basa' is a form of the verb 'basar' (to base) in the third person singular present tense.
Notes: The noun 'base' and the verb 'basar' are related, with 'base' being the foundation and 'basar' meaning to use something as a foundation.
Mnemonic: 'Base' is the thing itself, while 'basa' is what someone does (bases something on something else).
Explanation: 'Base' means 'foundation' in Spanish, while 'vase' is an English word for a decorative container. In Spanish, 'vase' would be translated as 'jarrón' or 'florero'.
Confused word:
Puso las flores en un jarrón.
She put the flowers in a vase.
Notes: These words look similar in writing but have completely different meanings and are from different languages.
Mnemonic: 'Base' supports things from below, while a 'vase' holds things inside it.