hueco
Lemma Details
Translation: hole; gap; hollow; cavity; space; opening
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin 'occus' (hollow), which evolved to Old Spanish 'hueco'. The initial 'h' is silent in modern Spanish, a common phonological feature in Spanish words derived from Latin forms that began with 'f' (though in this case, the etymology is different). The word shares conceptual similarities with English 'hollow' and 'vacuum', though they are not direct cognates.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Hay un hueco en la pared.
There is a hole in the wall.
¿Tienes un hueco en tu agenda para reunirnos?
Do you have a gap in your schedule to meet?
El ratón se escondió en un hueco del suelo.
The mouse hid in a hole in the floor.
Necesito encontrar un hueco para estacionar el coche.
I need to find a space to park the car.
Mnemonics
- Think of an 'echo' in a hollow space - similar to 'hueco' in pronunciation.
- Visualize a hollow 'H' shape with an empty space in the middle - that's a 'hueco'.
- Associate with 'vacuum' - both refer to empty spaces.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
In Spanish workplace culture, 'tener un hueco' (having a gap) is a common way to refer to having free time in one's schedule. The term is also used in construction and architecture contexts to refer to structural openings.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Hueco' means 'hole' or 'gap', while 'hueso' means 'bone'. They look and sound similar but have completely different meanings.
Confused word:
Me duele el hueso de la cadera.
My hip bone hurts.
Notes: Both words begin with 'hue-' and are common in everyday Spanish.
Mnemonic: 'Hueco' has a 'c' like 'cavity', while 'hueso' has an 's' like 'skeleton'.
Explanation: 'Hueco' is a hole or gap, while 'huerto' is a vegetable garden or orchard.
Notes: Both words start with 'hue-' but refer to completely different concepts.
Mnemonic: 'Huerto' contains 'ert' which can remind you of 'earth' where gardens grow.