aire
/ai-reh/
air
The primary meaning of aire is the invisible gas we breathe or moving air (wind).
aire(Noun)
air
?The invisible gas we breathe
wind
?When talking about moving air, especially gentle
,breeze
?A light, pleasant wind
📝 In Action
Necesito un poco de aire fresco.
A1I need a bit of fresh air.
El aire acondicionado no funciona.
A2The air conditioning isn't working.
Vamos a comer al aire libre.
B1Let's go eat outdoors.
💡 Grammar Points
Always 'el aire'
Even though it ends with an '-e', 'aire' is a masculine word. So, you'll always say 'el aire' (the air) or 'un aire' (an air).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'la' instead of 'el'
Mistake: "Me gusta la aire de la mañana."
Correction: Me gusta el aire de la mañana. Just remember that 'aire' is a masculine word, so it uses 'el'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking about the outdoors
The phrase 'al aire libre' is the perfect way to say 'outdoors' or 'in the open air'. It's very common for talking about activities like picnics, concerts, or sports.
Aire can also mean a 'look' or 'resemblance', often used to say someone 'has a look of' someone else.
aire(Noun)
look
?Someone's appearance or resemblance
,air
?A particular manner or quality, e.g., 'an air of confidence'
vibe
?The general feeling or atmosphere of a place
,aspect
?A particular feature or quality
📝 In Action
Ese chico tiene un aire a su abuelo.
B1That boy has a look of his grandfather / looks a bit like his grandfather.
Llegó con un aire de superioridad.
B2He arrived with an air of superiority.
La decoración le da a la habitación un aire muy moderno.
B1The decoration gives the room a very modern vibe.
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Meaning
Think of this meaning like the English 'air' or 'vibe'. It's about a feeling, appearance, or quality something or someone has. It's often used with the verbs 'tener' (to have) or 'dar' (to give).
In a musical context, aire refers to a simple 'tune' or 'melody'.
aire(Noun)
tune
?A melody in music
air
?A simple melody or song
,melody
?A sequence of musical notes
📝 In Action
El flautista tocó un aire popular de su región.
B2The flutist played a popular tune from his region.
La canción tiene un aire melancólico.
C1The song has a melancholic air/melody.
⭐ Usage Tips
Musical Context
You'll most likely see this meaning when reading about music, art, or in older literature. It's good to recognize but not something you need to use in everyday conversation.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: aire
Question 1 of 1
In the sentence 'Mi nuevo jefe tiene un aire muy serio,' what does 'aire' mean?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it 'el aire' and not 'la aire'? I thought words ending in '-a' were feminine and '-o' were masculine.
That's a great rule of thumb, but there are exceptions! Many Spanish nouns ending in '-e' are masculine, and 'aire' is one of them. The best way is to learn the little word ('el' or 'la') along with the noun, like a single unit: 'el-aire'.
What's the difference between 'aire' and 'viento'?
Good question! 'Aire' is the general word for the air all around us. 'Viento' specifically means moving air, or wind. If you're talking about the air conditioning or needing fresh air, use 'aire'. If you're talking about a windy day, use 'viento'.