aire
“aire” means “air” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
air
Also: wind, breeze
📝 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.
look, air
Also: vibe, aspect
📝 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.
tune
Also: air, melody
📝 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.
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✏️ 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
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'aer', which itself came from the Greek word 'aḗr'. Both words meant 'air' or 'atmosphere', so the core meaning has stayed the same for thousands of years!
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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'.