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alma

al-mah/ˈalma/

soul

Also: spirit
NounfB1
A simple silhouette of a human figure standing. Inside the figure's outline, a bright, warm yellow light is swirling and radiating, symbolizing the spiritual soul.

📝 In Action

Creen que el alma es inmortal.

B1

They believe the soul is immortal.

Puso toda su alma y corazón en el proyecto.

B2

He put his whole heart and soul into the project.

Es una persona con un alma muy noble.

B1

She is a person with a very noble soul.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • espíritu (spirit)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • alma gemela – soulmate
  • salvar su alma – to save one's soul
  • paz del alma – peace of mind / peace of the soul

Idioms & Expressions

  • con el alma en un vilo – To be on pins and needles; very anxious or worried.
  • partir el alma – To be heartbreaking.
  • llegar al alma – To touch one's soul; to be deeply moving.

essence

Also: core, heart
NounfB2
A close-up of a large, stylized, vibrant red and yellow flower. The central disk of the flower is glowing intensely, symbolizing the essential core or essence.

📝 In Action

El jazz es el alma de Nueva Orleans.

B2

Jazz is the soul/essence of New Orleans.

El alma de nuestro negocio es la atención al cliente.

C1

The core of our business is customer service.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • esencia (essence)
  • corazón (heart (figurative))
  • núcleo (core, nucleus)

Common Collocations

  • el alma de la fiesta – the life of the party
  • el alma de un lugar – the soul/spirit of a place

soul

Also: person
NounfB2
A vast, empty landscape of rolling green hills under a bright sky. In the far distance, a single, small human figure is walking alone, emphasizing the count of one person.

📝 In Action

No había ni un alma en la calle.

B2

There wasn't a single soul on the street.

Es un pueblo de solo doscientas almas.

C1

It's a town of only two hundred souls (people).

Word Connections

Synonyms

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "alma" in Spanish:

core→essence→heart→person→soul→spirit→

✏️ 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

👥 Word Family▼
desalmado(heartless, soulless) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word `anima`, which meant 'breath', 'life', 'soul', or 'spirit'. Over time, the 'ni' sound transformed into the 'l' sound we hear in Spanish today.

First recorded: Around the 10th century.

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: almaItalian: animaFrench: âme

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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.