ambos
“ambos” means “both” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
both
📝 In Action
Ambos niños juegan en el parque.
A2Both children are playing in the park.
Leí ambas novelas en una semana.
A2I read both novels in one week.
En ambos casos, la respuesta es la misma.
B1In both cases, the answer is the same.
both
📝 In Action
¿Prefieres el té o el café? — Me gustan ambos.
B1Do you prefer tea or coffee? — I like both.
Mis hermanas son doctoras. Ambas viven en Madrid.
B1My sisters are doctors. Both live in Madrid.
Hablé con el gerente y el subgerente; ambos estuvieron de acuerdo.
B2I spoke with the manager and the assistant manager; both agreed.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ambos
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence is correct? 'Tengo dos hermanas. ___ son muy altas.'
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
'Ambos' comes directly from the Latin word 'ambo,' which meant 'both.' It has kept its original meaning for thousands of years, making it a very stable and ancient word in the language.
First recorded: c. 1140
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'ambos' and 'los dos'?
They mean the same thing ('both') and are often interchangeable. 'Los dos' (or 'las dos') is very common in everyday conversation. 'Ambos' can sound a tiny bit more formal, but it's also used all the time. You can use whichever you feel more comfortable with!
Is there a singular form, like 'ambo'?
No, there isn't. Because 'ambos' by definition means two things, it's always plural. You will only ever see it as 'ambos' (for masculine or mixed groups) or 'ambas' (for feminine groups).
Do I need to put 'a' after 'ambos' when talking about people?
No, you don't. Unlike some other structures, you just say 'Ambos quieren...' (Both want...). You don't need the 'personal a' directly after 'ambos' when it's the subject of the sentence.