estío
Lemma Details
Translation: summer; summertime
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'aestivum' (relating to summer) and 'aestas' (summer). The Latin root 'aest-' is related to words indicating heat or burning, which connects to English words like 'estival' (relating to summer) and shares distant roots with 'estuary' (where tides meet). Unlike the more common Spanish word 'verano' for summer, 'estío' has preserved its direct Latin lineage.
Commonality: 30%
Guessability: 40%
Register: literary, formal
Example Usage
Los días largos del estío invitan a pasear por la playa.
The long summer days invite one to walk along the beach.
El calor del estío es especialmente intenso en el sur de España.
The summer heat is especially intense in southern Spain.
En su poema, describe la belleza del estío en el campo.
In his poem, he describes the beauty of summer in the countryside.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'estío' as related to 'estival' in English (relating to summer).
- Connect it to 'heat' - the 'est-' sound resembles 'heat' with an accent.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
While 'verano' is the everyday word for summer in most Spanish-speaking regions, 'estío' appears more frequently in literary contexts, poetry, and formal writing. It carries a somewhat poetic or elevated connotation compared to the more common 'verano'.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While both mean 'summer', 'estío' is more literary and formal, whereas 'verano' is the common, everyday word for summer in most Spanish-speaking countries.
Notes: In everyday conversation, using 'estío' might sound overly formal or affected in most contexts.
Mnemonic: 'Estío' sounds more elegant and elevated, like poetry, while 'verano' sounds more casual and everyday.
Explanation: 'Estío' (summer) looks similar to 'estilo' (style) but has completely different meanings.
Confused word:
Me gusta su estilo de vestir.
I like his style of dressing.
Notes: The similarity is purely orthographic; the meanings are unrelated.
Mnemonic: 'Estío' ends with 'o' like 'calor' (heat), while 'estilo' ends with 'lo' like 'look'.