invierno
Wordform Details
Translation: winter
Part of Speech: noun
Inflection Type:
masculinesingularIs Dictionary Form: Yes
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma Details
Translation: winter; wintertime
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin hibernum (tempus) meaning 'winter (time)'. The Latin word hibernus means 'of winter' or 'wintry'. The English word 'hibernate' shares this Latin root, referring to animals that sleep through the winter. The initial 'h' in Latin was lost in Spanish, and the 'b' evolved into 'v', a common phonetic shift in Romance languages.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 40%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
En invierno nieva mucho en las montañas.
In winter it snows a lot in the mountains.
Prefiero el verano al invierno.
I prefer summer to winter.
El invierno comienza oficialmente el 21 de diciembre.
Winter officially begins on December 21st.
Durante el invierno, los días son más cortos.
During winter, the days are shorter.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'in-VIERN-o' as the time when you're 'in fear, no?' of the cold.
- Connect it to 'hibernate' - animals hibernate during 'invierno'.
- The 'vier' in 'invierno' sounds like 'fear' - people often fear the cold of winter.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, winter experiences vary greatly by region. In Spain and southern South America, winter is a distinct season, while in tropical Latin American countries, the term may refer more to a rainy season rather than a cold one. Many Spanish-speaking cultures have rich winter traditions, including Christmas and Three Kings Day celebrations.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Invierno' means 'winter' while 'infierno' means 'hell'. They look and sound similar but have completely different meanings.
Confused word:
Según algunas religiones, las almas malas van al infierno.
According to some religions, evil souls go to hell.
Notes: The confusion is common among beginners due to the similar spelling and pronunciation.
Mnemonic: 'Invierno' has a 'v' for 'very cold', while 'infierno' has an 'f' for 'fire'.
Explanation: 'Invierno' is 'winter', while 'interno' means 'internal' or 'intern'.
Confused word:
Él trabaja como médico interno en el hospital.
He works as an intern doctor at the hospital.
Notes: The words have different stress patterns: in-VIER-no vs. in-TER-no.
Mnemonic: 'Invierno' has 'vier' in it, while 'interno' has 'tern' (think 'internal').