Inklingo
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biblioteca

/bee-blee-oh-TEH-kah/

library

A brightly colored, friendly illustration of the exterior of a public library building with large windows and a sign (without text) indicating its purpose.

This image shows a public library building, a common meaning of "biblioteca."

biblioteca(noun)

fA1

library

?

public institution or building

Also:

book collection

?

personal set of books

📝 In Action

Fui a la biblioteca municipal para estudiar en silencio.

A1

I went to the municipal library to study in silence.

La biblioteca de mi abuelo tiene más de mil libros antiguos.

A2

My grandfather's book collection (library) has more than a thousand old books.

Necesito sacar un carné de biblioteca para poder llevarme los libros a casa.

A2

I need to get a library card to be able to take the books home.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • archivo (archive)
  • hemeroteca (newspaper/magazine library)

Common Collocations

  • biblioteca pública / municipal – public / municipal library
  • biblioteca digital – digital library

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

Remember that 'biblioteca' is always feminine, so you must use 'la' or 'una' before it: 'la biblioteca'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'Librería'

Mistake: "Using 'librería' when you mean a place to borrow books."

Correction: A 'librería' is a bookstore (where you buy books). A 'biblioteca' is a library (where you borrow books).

⭐ Usage Tips

Pronunciation Tip

Make sure to pronounce all the vowels! It's 'bi-bli-o-te-ca', not 'biblioteca' like in English.

An illustration showing colorful, glowing digital blocks and modules stacked neatly inside a stylized computer interface, representing a software library.

In computing, "biblioteca" refers to a collection of reusable code or software components.

biblioteca(noun)

fB2

library

?

computing/software component

Also:

database

?

organized collection of data/resources

📝 In Action

El programador descargó una biblioteca de código abierto para el proyecto.

B2

The programmer downloaded an open-source library for the project.

Esta universidad mantiene una biblioteca virtual con miles de artículos científicos.

C1

This university maintains a virtual library with thousands of scientific articles.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • repositorio (repository)
  • base de datos (database)

Common Collocations

  • biblioteca de software – software library
  • biblioteca de funciones – function library

⭐ Usage Tips

Context Clues

When you hear 'biblioteca' in a technical discussion (especially about computers), it refers to a set of pre-written tools or code that makes programming easier, extending the original idea of a resource collection.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: biblioteca

Question 1 of 2

If you want to buy the latest novel, where should you go?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

bibliotecario(librarian (male)) - noun
bibliotecaria(librarian (female)) - noun
bibliófilo(book lover) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

How is 'biblioteca' different from 'librería'?

This is a huge point of confusion! A 'biblioteca' is a library—a place where you borrow books and study. A 'librería' is a bookstore—a place where you buy books.

Does 'biblioteca' ever mean a collection of something non-physical?

Yes, absolutely. Especially in technology and academic fields, it means a digital or virtual collection of resources, like a 'software library' (biblioteca de software) or a 'virtual database' (biblioteca virtual).