araña
/ah-RAH-nyah/
spider
The most common meaning of araña is "spider."
📝 In Action
Mi hermana le tiene miedo a las arañas pequeñas.
A1My sister is afraid of small spiders.
La araña tejió su telaraña entre las ramas del árbol.
A2The spider wove its web between the branches of the tree.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Consistency
Even though 'araña' refers to both male and female spiders, it is always a feminine noun, so you always use 'la araña'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Related Noun
The word for 'cobweb' or 'spiderweb' is 'telaraña', which literally means 'spider's web'.
Araña can also refer to a "chandelier," often due to its many arms resembling a spider's legs.
📝 In Action
Encendieron la araña de cristal para iluminar el salón.
B2They turned on the crystal chandelier to light up the hall.
La tienda de antigüedades vendía una araña de hierro muy antigua.
C1The antique shop was selling a very old iron chandelier.
💡 Grammar Points
Context is Key
In conversations about home decor or lighting, 'araña' almost certainly refers to the chandelier, not the insect.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: araña
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'araña' to refer to an inanimate object?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Por qué 'araña' significa dos cosas tan diferentes?
The two meanings are connected by their appearance. The original meaning is the spider. The second meaning, 'chandelier,' came about because the light fixture has many radiating arms that look like the legs of a large spider.