An astronaut in a white space suit floating in the dark void of space with a distant blue planet in the background.

astronauta

as-tro-NAW-tah

nounm or fA2

astronaut?a person who travels into space

Also:spaceman / spacewoman?informal ways to describe a space traveler,cosmonaut?specifically used for Russian space travelers, though 'cosmonauta' is often used in Spanish too

📝 In Action

El astronauta salió de la nave espacial.

The astronaut left the spacecraft.

Ella es la primera astronauta de su país.

She is the first female astronaut from her country.

Muchos niños sueñan con ser astronautas.

Many children dream of being astronauts.

Word Connections

Synonyms

cosmonauta (cosmonaut)

Common Collocations

traje de astronauta – astronaut suit / spacesuit
entrenamiento de astronauta – astronaut training

💡 Grammar Points

One word for everyone

This word is the same for both men and women. You don't change the ending to 'o' for a man; you just change the little word in front (el astronauta / la astronauta).

❌ Common Pitfalls

The 'Astronauto' Error

Mistake: "Calling a male astronaut 'el astronauto'."

Correction: Always use 'el astronauta'. Even though it ends in 'a', it describes both genders perfectly.

⭐ Usage Tips

How to talk about the team

When talking about a group of astronauts that includes at least one man, use the masculine plural: 'los astronautas'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: astronauta

Question 1 of 2

How would you say 'the female astronaut' in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

astro(star/celestial body) - noun

astronomía(astronomy) - noun

astronáutico(astronautical) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it ever 'astronauto'?

No, 'astronauto' is not a real word in Spanish. Whether the person is male or female, we always use 'astronauta'.

What is the difference between 'astronauta' and 'cosmonauta'?

They mean the same thing (a space traveler), but 'cosmonauta' is more commonly used when referring to space programs from Russia or the former Soviet Union.