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abanico

ah-bah-NEE-koh/aβaˈniko/

“abanico” means “hand fan” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

hand fan

Also: folding fan
NounmA1
Latin America
A colorful folding hand fan with a floral pattern, partially opened.

📝 In Action

Hace mucho calor, necesito mi abanico.

A1

It's very hot, I need my fan.

Ella colecciona abanicos de colores.

A2

She collects colorful hand fans.

En el baile de flamenco, el abanico es muy importante.

B1

In flamenco dancing, the hand fan is very important.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • abano (large fan)

Common Collocations

  • abrir el abanico – to open the fan
  • cerrar el abanico – to close the fan

range

Also: spectrum
NounmB2
A row of various colorful umbrellas in different styles and patterns.

📝 In Action

La tienda ofrece un amplio abanico de productos.

B2

The store offers a wide range of products.

Hay un gran abanico de posibilidades para tu carrera.

B2

There is a wide spectrum of possibilities for your career.

El candidato presentó un abanico de propuestas nuevas.

C1

The candidate presented a variety of new proposals.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • limitación (limitation)

Common Collocations

  • un amplio abanico de – a wide range of
  • abrir el abanico de – to broaden the range of

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "abanico" in Spanish:

folding fan→hand fan→range→spectrum→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: abanico

Question 1 of 3

Which of these would you use to describe a wide variety of career choices?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
abanicar(to fan) — Verb
abanicazo(a blow with a fan) — Noun
abaniqueo(the act of fanning) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Portuguese word 'abano', which comes from the Latin 'evannare', meaning 'to winnow' or 'to clear grain using wind'.

First recorded: 17th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: abanador

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'abanico' for a sports fan?

No. A person who follows a sports team is called a 'seguidor' or 'aficionado'. 'Abanico' only refers to the tool or a range of things.

Is 'abanico' used in all Spanish-speaking countries?

Yes, but it is most iconic in Spain. In some Caribbean regions, you might hear it used for ceiling fans, but 'ventilador' is safer to use everywhere.

What is the verb for 'to fan yourself'?

The verb is 'abanicarse'. For example: 'Ella se abanica porque tiene calor' (She fans herself because she is hot).