próspero
Lemma Details
Translation: prosperous; thriving; successful; flourishing; wealthy
Part of Speech: adjective
Etymology: From Latin 'prosperus' meaning 'favorable, fortunate, successful'. The Latin term derives from 'pro' (forward) and 'sperare' (to hope), literally meaning 'according to one's hopes'. The English cognate 'prosperous' shares the same Latin root, making this a transparent cognate that maintains both form and meaning across languages.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 90%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'prospector' - someone who searches for gold to become prosperous.
- Remember the phrase 'prosperity is in the future' - 'pro' means forward (future) and 'spero' relates to hope.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, 'próspero' is commonly used in New Year's greetings ('próspero año nuevo') as a wish for prosperity in the coming year. It's also frequently used in business and economic contexts to describe thriving companies or economies.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'próspero' means 'prosperous' or 'successful', 'próximo' means 'next' or 'upcoming'. They look similar but have completely different meanings.
This word:
Es un hombre próspero con muchas propiedades.
He is a prosperous man with many properties.
Notes: Both words have the accent on the first syllable (PRÓspero, PRÓximo) but serve entirely different grammatical and semantic functions.
Mnemonic: 'Próspero' has an 's' in it, like 'success' and 'prosperity', while 'próximo' has an 'x' like in 'next'.
Explanation: 'Próspero' means 'prosperous', while 'propósito' means 'purpose' or 'intention'. They share some letters but have different meanings and stress patterns.
Notes: Both words begin with 'pro-' but serve completely different functions in sentences.
Mnemonic: 'Propósito' has the stress on the second-to-last syllable (proPÓsito) and relates to 'purpose', while 'próspero' (PRÓspero) relates to prosperity.