alma
/al-mah/
soul
The primary meaning of alma is the 'soul' or 'spirit,' representing the spiritual, non-physical part of a person.
alma(Noun)
soul
?The spiritual or non-physical part of a person.
spirit
?The essential consciousness or character of a person.
📝 In Action
Creen que el alma es inmortal.
B1They believe the soul is immortal.
Puso toda su alma y corazón en el proyecto.
B2He put his whole heart and soul into the project.
Es una persona con un alma muy noble.
B1She is a person with a very noble soul.
💡 Grammar Points
The Tricky Article 'el'
Alma is a feminine word, but we say el alma instead of la alma. This happens with feminine words that start with a stressed 'a' sound to avoid the two 'a' sounds running together. When you add a word in between or an adjective after, you use the normal feminine form: una buena alma (a good soul) or el alma pura (the pure soul).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'la' instead of 'el'
Mistake: "La alma es invisible."
Correction: El alma es invisible. Remember, even though 'alma' is feminine, we use 'el' right before it because it starts with that stressed 'a' sound.
Figuratively, alma means the 'essence' or 'core,' referring to the central and most important part of an object, idea, or place.
alma(Noun)
essence
?The intrinsic nature of something.
core
?The central or most important part.
,heart
?Figurative, the center of something.
📝 In Action
El jazz es el alma de Nueva Orleans.
B2Jazz is the soul/essence of New Orleans.
El alma de nuestro negocio es la atención al cliente.
C1The core of our business is customer service.
⭐ Usage Tips
Beyond People
Think of 'alma' as the special something that gives a place, an idea, or an object its unique character. It's a poetic way to describe the most important part of anything, like 'the soul of the city' or 'the soul of the company'.
In specific contexts, alma can be used to refer to a 'person' or 'individual,' often when counting population or emphasizing solitude (e.g., 'not a single soul').
alma(Noun)
soul
?Used to refer to a person, often for counting or emphasis.
person
?In phrases like 'not a living soul'.
📝 In Action
No había ni un alma en la calle.
B2There wasn't a single soul on the street.
Es un pueblo de solo doscientas almas.
C1It's a town of only two hundred souls (people).
⭐ Usage Tips
Counting People Poetically
Using 'alma' to mean 'person' is common when you want to sound a bit more descriptive or dramatic, especially when saying a place is empty ('no había ni un alma') or talking about the population of a small town.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: alma
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'el alma' correctly to mean the 'essence' or 'core' of something?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'alma' the same as 'espíritu'?
They are very similar and often translated as 'soul' or 'spirit'. However, 'alma' is more personal and connected to an individual's feelings and being. 'Espíritu' can be more general, referring to the mood of a group (el espíritu del equipo), a ghost, or the Holy Spirit in a religious context.
If 'alma' is feminine, why do I see 'un alma'?
Great question! It follows the same rule as 'el alma'. To avoid the awkward sound of 'una alma', we change 'una' to 'un' right before it. So you'd say 'un alma pura' (a pure soul). The adjective 'pura' is still feminine, which shows you that 'alma' itself is a feminine word.