lugar
Lemma Details
Translation: place; location; site; spot; position; room; space
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'localis' (pertaining to a place), from 'locus' (place). The English words 'local' and 'location' share this Latin root. The evolution from Latin 'locus' to Spanish 'lugar' involved a phonetic shift where the 'o' became 'u' and the 'c' softened to 'g', with the addition of the suffix '-ar'.
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 40%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
La reunión tendrá lugar a las cinco.
The meeting will take place at five.
En primer lugar, quiero agradecerles por venir.
First of all, I want to thank you for coming.
No hay lugar para dudas.
There is no room for doubt.
Ocupa el segundo lugar en la competencia.
He/She occupies second place in the competition.
Este es mi lugar favorito en la ciudad.
This is my favorite place in the city.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'lugar' as where you 'lug around' your belongings - it's your place.
- Associate with English 'locale' - both refer to a specific place or location.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, 'lugar' is often used in expressions related to social status or position in society. The phrase 'poner a alguien en su lugar' (to put someone in their place) is commonly used to describe establishing social boundaries.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Lugar' means 'place' while 'luego' means 'later' or 'then'. They look similar but have completely different meanings and uses.
Notes: Both words are very common in everyday Spanish, but serve completely different grammatical functions.
Mnemonic: 'Lugar' has an 'a' for 'area' (place), while 'luego' has an 'e' for 'eventually' (later).
Explanation: While 'lugar' is a general term for 'place', 'local' specifically refers to a commercial establishment or venue. 'Local' can also be an adjective meaning 'local'.
Notes: 'Local' in Spanish shares meaning with English 'local' when used as an adjective, but as a noun it specifically means a business establishment.
Mnemonic: Think of 'local' as a specific commercial 'locale', while 'lugar' is any place.