paraíso
Lemma Details
Translation: paradise; heaven; Eden
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin 'paradisus', which came from Greek 'paradeisos', originally from Old Persian 'paridaiza' meaning 'enclosed garden' or 'park'. The concept evolved from describing luxurious Persian gardens to representing the biblical Garden of Eden and later the Christian concept of heaven. The English word 'paradise' shares this same etymology, making them perfect cognates.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 90%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Las playas de México son un verdadero paraíso.
The beaches of Mexico are a true paradise.
Según su religión, las almas buenas van al paraíso después de la muerte.
According to their religion, good souls go to heaven after death.
El jardín botánico es un paraíso para los amantes de las plantas.
The botanical garden is a paradise for plant lovers.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'paradise' in English - they sound almost identical
- Para-íso: 'para' (for) + 'íso' (sounds like 'ease-o') - a place 'for ease'
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking Catholic cultures, 'paraíso' has strong religious connotations, often referring to the Christian concept of heaven. It's also commonly used in tourism to describe idyllic vacation destinations, particularly tropical beaches and natural settings.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'paraíso' means 'paradise', 'parásito' means 'parasite'. They look and sound somewhat similar but have completely different meanings.
Confused word:
El médico encontró un parásito en su intestino.
The doctor found a parasite in his intestine.
Notes: The stress falls on different syllables: pa-RA-í-so vs. pa-RÁ-si-to.
Mnemonic: 'Paraíso' has 'ís' in the middle, think 'paradise is nice'. 'Parásito' has 'sit' in it, like a parasite that 'sits' on its host.