alas
“alas” means “wings” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
wings
Also: flanks, blades
📝 In Action
Las aves extienden sus alas antes de despegar.
A1The birds extend their wings before taking off.
El avión tiene alas muy grandes para un vuelo tan corto.
A2The plane has very large wings for such a short flight.
El entrenador reforzó las alas de su equipo para el contraataque.
B1The coach strengthened the flanks (wings) of his team for the counterattack.
alas, woe
📝 In Action
¡Alas! Hemos perdido la oportunidad de nuestra vida.
C1Alas! We have lost the opportunity of a lifetime.
El rey suspiró, diciendo: '¡Alas! Mi reino está en ruinas.'
C2The king sighed, saying, 'Woe! My kingdom is in ruins.'
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: alas
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'alas' as an expression of disappointment?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The noun 'alas' (wings) comes directly from the Latin word *ala*, meaning 'wing' or 'armpit.' The interjection '¡Alas!' has a separate, less certain origin, possibly related to expressions of pain or sorrow, or perhaps influenced by the older French interjection 'hélas' (alas).
First recorded: 13th century (noun meaning)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the singular form use 'el' if 'alas' is feminine?
This is a special rule in Spanish for feminine nouns that start with a strongly stressed 'A' sound. To make the pronunciation smoother, the singular article changes from 'la' to 'el' (e.g., el agua, el águila). However, the word is still feminine, which you see when you make it plural: 'las alas'.
Is the interjection '¡Alas!' common in modern Spanish?
Not really. It is generally considered old-fashioned, dramatic, or literary. In everyday conversation, Spanish speakers use phrases like '¡Qué pena!' (What a shame!) or '¡Qué lástima!' (What a pity!) instead.