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bancos

BAHN-kohs/ˈbaŋkos/

“bancos” means “banks” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

banks

Also: banking establishments
NounmA1
A simple drawing of a sturdy building entrance with large columns and steps, symbolizing a financial bank.

📝 In Action

Todos los bancos están cerrados hoy por el feriado.

A1

All the banks are closed today due to the holiday.

Necesito visitar dos bancos diferentes esta semana.

A2

I need to visit two different banks this week.

Los bancos centrales regulan la política monetaria del país.

B2

Central banks regulate the country's monetary policy.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • entidades financieras (financial entities)

Common Collocations

  • cajeros de los bancos – bank tellers / ATMs of the banks
  • cuentas de bancos – bank accounts

benches

Also: stools, shoals
NounmA1
Mexico
A simple wooden park bench sitting empty in a sunny green park setting.

📝 In Action

Nos sentamos en los bancos del parque para comer.

A1

We sat on the park benches to eat.

Hay varios bancos de madera en la cocina.

A2

There are several wooden stools/benches in the kitchen.

Vimos bancos de peces nadando cerca del bote.

B1

We saw schools (shoals) of fish swimming near the boat.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • bancos del parque – park benches
  • bancos de peces – schools of fish

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "bancos" in Spanish:

banking establishments→banks→benches→shoals→stools→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: bancos

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'bancos' in the context of seating?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
banco(bank; bench) — Noun
banquero(banker) — Noun
bancario(banking (adj.)) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
francosmancos
📚 Etymology▼

The word 'banco' entered Spanish through Italian, borrowing from the Old High German word *bank*. This German word originally meant a 'ridge' or 'mound,' which was used both for a raised seating structure (bench) and for a table used by money changers in the marketplace (the origin of the financial 'bank').

First recorded: Medieval period (around the 13th century)

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: bancoEnglish: bankFrench: banc

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if 'bancos' means 'banks' or 'benches'?

You rely entirely on the surrounding words. If you see words related to finance (money, loans, credit cards), it means 'banks.' If you see words related to parks, sitting, or furniture, it means 'benches' or 'stools.' Spanish speakers keep these two meanings separate based on context.

Can 'bancos' refer to a school of fish?

Yes, 'un banco de peces' is the correct term for a 'school of fish' or a 'shoal.' This meaning is less common in everyday conversation than the other two, but it is grammatically correct.