entero
Lemma Details
Translation: whole; entire; complete; intact; integer; unbroken; full
Part of Speech: adjective
Etymology: From Latin 'integer' meaning 'whole, complete, untouched', which comes from 'in-' (not) + 'tangere' (to touch), literally meaning 'untouched, intact'. This is the same Latin root that gives us the English word 'integer' (a whole number) and 'integrity' (wholeness of character). The evolution from Latin 'integer' to Spanish 'entero' shows typical sound changes in Romance languages.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Comí el pastel entero.
I ate the whole cake.
Necesito un día entero para terminar este proyecto.
I need an entire day to finish this project.
El vaso está entero, no se rompió.
The glass is intact, it didn't break.
En matemáticas, trabajamos con números enteros.
In mathematics, we work with integers.
Leyó el libro entero en una noche.
He read the entire book in one night.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'enter-o' as something that enters completely into a space, filling it entirely.
- Connect it to 'integer' in English, which is a whole number (not fractional).
- Imagine an 'entire' object that is whole and complete - 'entero' sounds like 'entire'.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In mathematics, 'número entero' specifically refers to integers. In everyday speech, 'entero' is commonly used to emphasize completeness or wholeness, as in 'un día entero' (a whole day).
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Entero' means 'whole' or 'complete', while 'interno' means 'internal' or 'inside'.
Notes: Both words can appear in similar contexts but with different meanings: 'el departamento entero' (the whole department) vs 'el departamento interno' (the internal department).
Mnemonic: 'Entero' has 'ente' which sounds like 'entire'; 'interno' has 'intern' like in English 'internal'.
Explanation: While both mean 'whole' or 'complete', 'íntegro' often carries a moral connotation of integrity or honesty, whereas 'entero' is more literal about physical completeness.
Confused word:
Es una persona íntegra en quien puedes confiar.
He is a person of integrity whom you can trust.
Notes: Both derive from the same Latin root 'integer', but have developed slightly different semantic ranges.
Mnemonic: 'Íntegro' is closer to English 'integrity', focusing on moral wholeness; 'entero' is closer to 'entire', focusing on physical completeness.