interno
Lemma Details
Translation: internal; inner; domestic; inpatient; boarding; resident
Part of Speech: adjective
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'internus' meaning 'inward, internal', from 'inter' meaning 'between, among'. The English cognate 'internal' shares the same Latin root. The word maintains its original meaning of something situated within or relating to the inside of something else. The Latin prefix 'inter-' is found in many English words like 'international', 'interact', and 'intervene'.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 90%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Hay un sangrado interno.
There is internal bleeding.
Es un asunto interno de la empresa.
It's an internal company matter.
Mi hijo es un estudiante interno en ese colegio.
My son is a boarding student at that school.
El paciente interno necesita atención médica.
The inpatient needs medical attention.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'intern' in English - someone working inside a company.
- Remember 'internal' in English - 'interno' is what's on the inside.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish healthcare contexts, 'médico interno residente' (MIR) refers to a resident doctor in training. In education, 'alumno interno' refers to a boarding student. The word has specialized meanings in various professional fields including medicine, education, and business.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Interno' means 'internal' or 'inside', while 'eterno' means 'eternal' or 'everlasting'. They look and sound similar but have completely different meanings.
Confused word:
Su amor es eterno.
Their love is eternal.
Notes: The words differ by just one letter but belong to completely different semantic fields.
Mnemonic: 'Interno' has 'in' at the beginning, reminding you of 'inside'; 'eterno' starts with 'e' like 'everlasting'.
Explanation: 'Interno' refers to something inside or internal, while 'invierno' means 'winter'. They share some letters but have unrelated meanings.
Notes: Both words begin with 'in-' but refer to completely different concepts.
Mnemonic: 'Invierno' contains 'vier' which can remind you of the four seasons, one of which is winter.