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A simplified illustration of a large white passenger airplane soaring high above the ground in a clear blue sky.

avión

/ah-byohn/

NounmA1
airplane?The flying vehicle.,plane?A more common, shorter way to say 'airplane'.
Also:aircraft?A more formal or technical term.

📝 In Action

El avión despega a las siete de la mañana.

A1

The plane takes off at seven in the morning.

Compramos los billetes de avión por internet.

A2

We bought the plane tickets online.

Nunca he tenido miedo a volar en avión.

B1

I've never been afraid of flying in an airplane.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • aeronave (aircraft)

Common Collocations

  • viajar en avión – to travel by plane
  • billete de avión – plane ticket
  • tomar un avión – to take a plane
  • subir al avión – to get on the plane / to board the plane

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser un avión – To be very fast, smart, or attractive.

💡 Grammar Points

Always a 'He' Word

Even though 'avión' ends in '-ón', which can sometimes be tricky, it's always a masculine word. This means you'll always use 'el' or 'un' with it: 'el avión' (the plane), 'un avión' (a plane).

Traveling 'in' a Plane

When you talk about traveling by a vehicle in Spanish, you almost always use the little word 'en'. So, to say 'by plane', you say 'en avión'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Pronunciation

Mistake: "Saying 'a-vee-on', like the English word 'avionics'."

Correction: Say 'ah-byohn'. The 'a' is short, like in 'father', and the 'ión' is one quick sound, 'yohn'.

Using the Wrong Preposition

Mistake: "Viajo por el avión."

Correction: Use 'en' for modes of transport: 'Viajo en avión'. Think of it as traveling 'in' the plane.

⭐ Usage Tips

Airplane vs. Flight

Be careful not to mix up 'avión' (the physical plane) with 'vuelo' (the flight or journey). You book 'un vuelo', but you get on 'un avión'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: avión

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly says 'I like to travel by plane'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

aviación(aviation) - noun
aviador / aviadora(aviator, pilot) - noun
avioneta(small plane, light aircraft) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'avión' and 'vuelo'?

Great question! 'Avión' refers to the physical machine, the airplane itself. 'Vuelo' refers to the journey or the trip, which we call a 'flight' in English. So, you buy a ticket for a 'vuelo', but you sit inside an 'avión'.

How do you say 'small plane' in Spanish?

You can say 'avión pequeño', but a very common and natural way is to use the word 'avioneta'. It specifically means a small, light aircraft.