centro
Lemma Details
Translation: center; middle; downtown; facility; institution
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin 'centrum' meaning 'center point', which itself came from Greek 'kentron' meaning 'sharp point, goad'. The English word 'center' shares the same Latin root. The concept of a central point or middle has expanded to include institutions and facilities that serve as focal points for specific activities.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 90%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
La biblioteca está en el centro de la ciudad.
The library is in the center of the city.
Vamos al centro comercial este fin de semana.
Let's go to the shopping mall this weekend.
El centro de investigación ha publicado nuevos resultados.
The research center has published new results.
Coloca la planta en el centro de la mesa.
Place the plant in the center of the table.
Mnemonics
- Think of a 'cent' (penny) as being in the center of your palm.
- Centro sounds like 'central' in English, which has the same meaning.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cities, 'el centro' typically refers to the historic downtown area, which is often the cultural and commercial heart of the city. It's common for people to say they're going 'al centro' when heading to the main shopping and business district.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Centro' means 'center' or 'middle', while 'dentro' means 'inside' or 'within'.
Confused word:
El gato está dentro de la caja.
The cat is inside the box.
Notes: These words often appear in similar contexts but have distinct meanings related to position.
Mnemonic: 'Centro' has a 'c' like 'central', while 'dentro' has a 'd' like 'deep inside'.
Explanation: 'Centro' refers to a center or middle, while 'ciento' means 'one hundred'.
Confused word:
Hay ciento veinte estudiantes en la clase.
There are one hundred twenty students in the class.
Notes: The pronunciation is similar but 'ciento' is related to numbers while 'centro' is related to location.
Mnemonic: 'Ciento' has an 'i' like the number 'one' in 'one hundred'.