viento
Lemma Details
Translation: wind; air current; breath; flatulence; breeze
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin 'ventus' (wind), which shares the same Indo-European root as English words like 'wind', 'ventilate', and 'window' (literally 'wind-eye' in Old Norse). The Latin 'ventus' also gave us English terms like 'ventilation' and 'vent'. The Spanish 'viento' underwent a diphthongization from the Latin 'e' to 'ie', a common sound change in Spanish evolution from Latin.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 50%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Hace mucho viento hoy.
It's very windy today.
El viento sopla del norte.
The wind blows from the north.
Las hojas se movían con el viento.
The leaves were moving with the wind.
Los barcos de vela necesitan viento para moverse.
Sailboats need wind to move.
Sus palabras se las llevó el viento.
His words were carried away by the wind (his words were forgotten/ignored).
Mnemonics
- Think of 'ventilation' in English - both involve moving air.
- Remember 'viento' sounds like 'vent' + 'o' - a vent lets wind through.
- Associate with 'ventana' (window) - where wind comes through.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish culture, 'viento' appears frequently in literature, music, and meteorological discussions. The concept of wind has significant presence in Spanish folklore and sayings, often symbolizing change, instability, or the passing of time. In Don Quixote, windmills (molinos de viento) play a famous role as the protagonist mistakes them for giants.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Viento' means 'wind' while 'tiempo' means 'time' or 'weather'. They look and sound similar with only one letter difference.
Notes: Both words are extremely common in everyday Spanish. 'Tiempo' can refer to weather conditions in general, while 'viento' specifically refers to air movement.
Mnemonic: 'Viento' has 'v' for 'velocity' of air; 'tiempo' has 't' for 'time'.
Explanation: 'Viento' means 'wind' while 'veinte' means 'twenty'. They look and sound somewhat similar.
Notes: The pronunciation differs in the middle: 'vien-to' vs. 'vein-te'.
Mnemonic: 'Veinte' ends with 'te' like 'twenty'; 'viento' ends with 'to' like 'tornado'.