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aires

AY-rehs/ˈai̯ɾes/

air

Also: outdoor air, atmosphere
NounmA1
Gentle, swirling currents of blue and white air moving across an open field.

📝 In Action

Me encanta salir a pasear y tomar los aires del campo.

A1

I love going out for a walk and taking in the country air.

El salón necesita que le abran las ventanas para renovar los aires.

A2

The living room needs the windows opened to refresh the air.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • atmósfera (atmosphere)
  • viento (wind)

Common Collocations

  • al aire libre – outdoors; in the open air
  • tomar aires – to take the air/to get some fresh air

airs

Also: look, attitude
NounmB2
A cartoonish illustration of a person standing with an exaggeratedly upright and proud posture, chin lifted, representing a haughty manner.

📝 In Action

Esa chica se da aires de superioridad, aunque no lo sea.

B2

That girl puts on airs of superiority, even if she isn't superior.

Tiene unos aires muy elegantes, parece de la realeza.

B1

She has a very elegant look; she seems like royalty.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • darse aires de – to put on airs of; to act like
  • dar aires a alguien – to make someone look/seem like something

Idioms & Expressions

  • darse aires – To act superior or pretentious; to put on airs.

tune

Also: rhythm
NounmB1
Colorful musical notes floating out of the end of a simple wooden flute.

📝 In Action

Me encanta la música andaluza, especialmente los aires de flamenco.

B1

I love Andalusian music, especially the flamenco tunes/rhythms.

El compositor le dio a la pieza unos aires muy melancólicos.

B2

The composer gave the piece a very melancholic tune/feel.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • melodía (melody)
  • ritmo (rhythm)

Common Collocations

  • aires de jazz – jazz tunes/rhythms
  • aires populares – folk tunes

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "aires" in Spanish:

airs→atmosphere→attitude→outdoor air→rhythm→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: aires

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'aires' to mean 'attitude' or 'pretentiousness'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
aire(air, wind) — Noun
aéreo(aerial, air-related) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
padrescáceres
📚 Etymology▼

The word 'aires' is simply the plural form of the noun 'aire'. This word comes from the Latin 'āēr', which itself was borrowed from the ancient Greek 'aḗr', meaning 'air' or 'atmosphere'. The figurative meanings developed over time, associating the invisible quality of air with someone's visible demeanor.

First recorded: Old Spanish (c. 13th century)

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: aresItalian: arie

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'aires' used in the plural when talking about attitude?

When referring to a person's manner or attitude, 'aires' is idiomatic and always used in the plural (like how we say 'to put on airs' in English). It refers to the collection of behaviors or appearances someone presents.

Can 'aires' also mean air conditioning?

Yes, in many places, 'aires' is a common short way of saying 'aire acondicionado' (air conditioning). For example, 'Prende los aires' means 'Turn on the AC.'