titán
Lemma Details
Translation: titan; giant
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin 'Titan', which comes from Ancient Greek 'Τιτάν' (Titán), referring to the primordial deities in Greek mythology who preceded the Olympian gods. The word has evolved to describe anything of enormous size, strength, or power. The English cognate 'titan' shares the same mythological roots and similar metaphorical uses to describe influential or powerful entities.
Commonality: 60%
Guessability: 90%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Messi es considerado un titán del fútbol mundial.
Messi is considered a titan of world football.
La empresa se ha convertido en un titán de la industria tecnológica.
The company has become a titan of the technology industry.
Necesitamos un esfuerzo titánico para terminar el proyecto a tiempo.
We need a titanic effort to finish the project on time.
Mnemonics
- Think of the movie 'Titanic' - something enormous and powerful, just like a titán.
- Relate it to titanium, a strong metal named after the Titans of Greek mythology.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish culture, 'titán' is often used metaphorically to refer to someone who has achieved greatness in their field, particularly in sports, arts, or business. It carries connotations of not just size but also significance and influence.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Titán' refers to a mythological giant or someone/something of great importance, while 'titanio' is the chemical element titanium.
Notes: Both words share the same etymological root, as titanium was named after the Titans of Greek mythology.
Mnemonic: 'Titán' ends with 'n' for 'notable' (notable figure), while 'titanio' ends with 'io' like many chemical elements in Spanish.