activo
“activo” means “active” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
active, energetic
Also: busy
📝 In Action
Mi abuelo todavía es muy activo y hace ejercicio todos los días.
A2My grandfather is still very active and exercises every day.
Necesitamos un plan activo para resolver el problema rápidamente.
B1We need an active plan to solve the problem quickly.
Ella es una ciudadana muy activa en su comunidad.
B1She is a very active citizen in her community.
asset
Also: capital
📝 In Action
Los activos de la compañía superan sus deudas.
B2The company's assets exceed its debts.
Compramos un activo fijo, que es una máquina nueva.
C1We bought a fixed asset, which is a new machine.
active, proactive
Also: current
📝 In Action
En esta oración, el verbo está en voz activa.
C1In this sentence, the verb is in the active voice.
El volcán ha permanecido activo durante siglos.
B2The volcano has remained active for centuries.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: activo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'activo' in its financial sense (asset)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
This word comes from the Latin word *activus*, which meant 'tending to act' or 'having the power of action.' It is built from the root *actus* (deed or action).
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'activo' only used for people?
No! While it often describes people (energetic, busy), it is also used for things like volcanoes (active), ingredients (active ingredients), and plans or voices (active voice/plan).
What is the difference between 'activo' (adjective) and 'activista' (noun)?
'Activo' is a description, meaning someone is energetic or engaged. 'Activista' is a specific type of person—an activist—who works politically or socially toward a goal.