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aliento

ah-LYEN-toh/aˈljento/

“aliento” means “breath” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

breath

Also: halitosis
NounmA1
A profile view of a simplified cartoon character gently exhaling a visible, stylized puff of white air.

📝 In Action

Tomé un aliento profundo antes de saltar a la piscina.

A2

I took a deep breath before jumping into the pool.

El corredor se quedó sin aliento después de la carrera.

A2

The runner was left breathless after the race.

Siempre mastico chicle para evitar el mal aliento.

A1

I always chew gum to avoid bad breath.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • respiración (the act of breathing)
  • aire (air)

Common Collocations

  • tomar aliento – to take a breath
  • mal aliento – bad breath

Idioms & Expressions

  • quedarse sin aliento – to be out of breath or astonished

encouragement

Also: spirit, hope
NounmB1
A simplified storybook scene showing one smiling figure placing a supportive hand on the shoulder of a smaller figure, who looks uplifted and encouraged.

📝 In Action

Sus palabras de aliento me ayudaron a no rendirme.

B1

His words of encouragement helped me not to give up.

El equipo necesita un poco de aliento de los aficionados.

B1

The team needs a little spirit/encouragement from the fans.

Recuperó el aliento y decidió seguir adelante con el proyecto.

B2

He recovered his spirit/strength and decided to move forward with the project.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • desánimo (discouragement)

Common Collocations

  • dar aliento – to give encouragement
  • perder el aliento – to lose hope/spirit

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "aliento" in Spanish:

breath→encouragement→halitosis→hope→spirit→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: aliento

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'aliento' to mean 'encouragement'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
alentar(to encourage, to cheer on) — Verb
alentador(encouraging) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Old Spanish verb 'alentar,' which itself derived from the Vulgar Latin 'anhelare,' meaning 'to pant' or 'to gasp.' It has always been connected to the physical act of breathing.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: alentoFrench: haleine

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'aliento' and 'respiración'?

'Aliento' refers to the air itself (the puff of air, or the smell), while 'respiración' refers to the continuous, ongoing *action* of breathing. Think of 'aliento' as the noun for the air, and 'respiración' as the noun for the process.

Why is 'aliento' masculine if it ends in '-o'?

'Aliento' is masculine (el aliento) because the vast majority of Spanish nouns ending in '-o' are masculine. There are no exceptions for this word.