común
Lemma Details
Translation: common; shared; mutual; ordinary; usual
Part of Speech: adjective
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'communis' meaning 'shared by all or many'. This same Latin root gave English words like 'common', 'community', and 'communicate'. The Latin 'communis' is formed from 'com-' (together) and 'munis' (obliging, ready to serve), suggesting something that belongs or applies to everyone collectively.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 80%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Es un problema común en esta región.
It's a common problem in this region.
Tenemos intereses en común.
We have interests in common.
El sentido común nos dice que debemos esperar.
Common sense tells us we should wait.
Es una práctica común en nuestra cultura.
It's a common practice in our culture.
La sala común está en el primer piso.
The common room is on the first floor.
Mnemonics
- Think 'commune' - a place where things are shared in common.
- Remember 'communication' - the common exchange of ideas.
- The accent mark points up like a community coming together.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, the concept of 'común' often extends beyond just frequency to include shared community values and resources. The term is central to expressions of collective identity and communal living arrangements that are important in many Hispanic societies.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Común' means 'common' or 'shared', while 'como' means 'like' or 'as'. They look somewhat similar but have completely different meanings and uses.
Confused word:
Habla como un nativo.
He speaks like a native.
Notes: The accent mark on 'común' is crucial for distinguishing it from 'como', both in writing and pronunciation.
Mnemonic: 'Común' has the accent mark pointing UP like a community coming together; 'como' is how you compare (c-o-m-p-a-r-e) things.
Explanation: 'Común' is an adjective meaning 'common', while 'comunidad' is a noun meaning 'community'. They share the same root but different grammatical functions.
This word:
Es un problema común.
It's a common problem.
Notes: 'Comunidad' is derived from 'común', showing how the concept of what is common extends to form a community.
Mnemonic: 'Común' is shorter, just like the word 'common' is shorter than 'community'.