nube
Lemma Details
Translation: cloud; crowd; mass; swarm
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin 'nubes' meaning 'cloud'. The English word 'nebula' (a cloud of gas and dust in space) shares the same Latin root, as does 'nebulous' (unclear, vague, or ill-defined). The connection between clouds and vagueness is preserved in both languages.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 50%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Las nubes oscuras anuncian lluvia.
Dark clouds signal rain.
Guardé todos mis documentos en la nube.
I saved all my documents in the cloud.
Una nube de mosquitos nos rodeó.
A swarm of mosquitoes surrounded us.
Siempre está en las nubes, nunca presta atención.
He's always in the clouds, never paying attention.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'new' + 'be' = 'nube', as if clouds are always newly forming and being in the sky.
- Connect it to 'nebula' in English, which is a cloud-like formation in space.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, especially in tropical regions, clouds can be significant weather indicators. The term 'la nube' has also gained prominence in technology contexts, referring to cloud computing just as in English.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'nube' refers to a cloud in the sky, 'niebla' means 'fog' or 'mist', which is a cloud-like phenomenon but at ground level.
Confused word:
La niebla dificultaba la visibilidad en la carretera.
The fog made visibility difficult on the road.
Notes: Both terms relate to water vapor in the atmosphere but differ in their location and density.
Mnemonic: 'Nube' is up in the sky, while 'niebla' is near the ground, like kneeling (sounds like 'niebla').
Explanation: In technology contexts, 'nube' (cloud) can refer to cloud computing, while in meteorology it refers to actual clouds.
Confused word:
Subí mis fotos a la nube para no perderlas.
I uploaded my photos to the cloud so I wouldn't lose them.
Notes: The technological meaning is a metaphorical extension of the original meaning.
Mnemonic: Think of actual clouds vs. virtual clouds where data 'floats'.