abstracto
“abstracto” means “abstract” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
abstract
Also: theoretical
📝 In Action
La libertad es un concepto muy abstracto.
B1Freedom is a very abstract concept.
Prefiero ejemplos prácticos en lugar de ideas abstractas.
B1I prefer practical examples instead of abstract ideas.
A veces su explicación es demasiado abstracta para mí.
B2Sometimes his explanation is too abstract for me.
abstract
📝 In Action
Vimos una pintura abstracta en el museo.
A2We saw an abstract painting at the museum.
No entiendo muy bien el arte abstracto.
B1I don't really understand abstract art.
Sus cuadros son muy abstractos y coloridos.
B1His paintings are very abstract and colorful.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: abstracto
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the correct way to say 'abstract ideas'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'abstractus', which literally means 'drawn away' or 'separated'. It describes things that are pulled away from physical reality and exist in the mind.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'abstracto' mean 'difficult to understand'?
Not exactly, but it often implies it. It refers to things that aren't physical. Because abstract ideas don't have a physical form, they can be harder to grasp than concrete objects.
Can I use 'abstracto' to describe a person?
Not usually. You wouldn't call a person 'abstracto', but you could say they have an 'abstract way of thinking' (pensamiento abstracto).
Is it always 'abstracto' or can it change?
It changes! Like most Spanish adjectives, it must match the noun: abstracto (masculine), abstracta (feminine), abstractos (masculine plural), and abstractas (feminine plural).