dorado
Lemma Details
Translation: golden; gilded; gold-colored; gold-plated
Part of Speech: adjective
Etymology: Derived from the Latin 'deauratus' meaning 'gilded' or 'covered with gold', which comes from 'de-' (completely) + 'auratus' (gold-plated), from 'aurum' (gold). This Latin root 'aurum' also gives us English words like 'aureate', 'auriferous', and the chemical symbol for gold, 'Au'. The Spanish word maintains the direct connection to gold ('oro' in Spanish) with the '-ado' suffix indicating it has been transformed or covered with gold.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 50%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'dorado' as related to 'adorned' with gold
- Remember that 'oro' (gold) is contained within 'dorado'
- Associate with the English word 'adoration' - something golden is often adored
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
In Spanish culture, 'dorado' has significant cultural associations beyond its literal meaning. It appears in the name of the mythical city 'El Dorado' that Spanish conquistadors searched for in the Americas. The term is also used in cuisine to describe a cooking technique (pescado dorado - fried fish) and appears in many place names throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Dorado' means 'golden' while 'durado' means 'lasted' (past participle of 'durar' - to last)
Notes: The pronunciation is similar but the meanings are completely unrelated.
Mnemonic: 'Dorado' has 'oro' (gold) in it, while 'durado' has 'dura' (lasts) in it.
Explanation: As a noun, 'dorado' can also refer to a type of fish (mahi-mahi or dolphinfish), while as an adjective it means 'golden'
Notes: The fish is named for its golden color, so the meanings are related.
Mnemonic: When it describes something, it's the color; when it stands alone as a noun, it's the fish.