vacío
Lemma Details
Translation: empty; vacant; void; hollow; blank; unoccupied
Part of Speech: adjective
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'vacivus' (empty, vacant), which comes from the verb 'vacare' meaning 'to be empty'. This Latin root also gave English words like 'vacant', 'vacation' (originally meaning time left empty of work), 'vacuum', and 'evacuate'. The connection between 'vacío' and 'vacuum' is particularly direct - both refer to spaces lacking content.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of a 'vacuum' cleaner that creates emptiness by sucking everything up.
- Imagine a 'vacant' room that is 'vacío' - both words share the same Latin root.
- The 'vac-' sound in both 'vacation' and 'vacío' can remind you that a vacation is when your work schedule is empty.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish philosophy and literature, 'el vacío' (the void) is often used to discuss existential emptiness or spiritual longing. The concept appears frequently in works by Spanish and Latin American authors exploring themes of isolation and meaning.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Vacío' means 'empty' while 'vago' means 'vague' or 'lazy'. They look somewhat similar but have completely different meanings.
This word:
El tanque está vacío.
The tank is empty.
Confused word:
Su respuesta fue muy vaga.
His answer was very vague.
Notes: Both words can be used metaphorically - 'vacío' for emotional emptiness and 'vago' for unclear ideas or lazy people.
Mnemonic: 'Vacío' has 'vac' like 'vacuum' (emptiness), while 'vago' sounds like 'vague' in English.
Explanation: 'Vacío' means 'empty' while 'vecino' means 'neighbor'. They have some visual similarity but completely different meanings and pronunciations.
Confused word:
Mi vecino es muy amable.
My neighbor is very friendly.
Notes: The stress falls on different syllables: va-CÍ-o vs. VE-ci-no.
Mnemonic: 'Vecino' has 'vec' which can remind you of 'vicinity' - someone in your vicinity.