blanca
“blanca” means “white” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
white
Also: pale
📝 In Action
Mi camisa favorita es blanca.
A1My favorite shirt is white.
Después del susto, su cara se puso completamente blanca.
A2After the shock, her face turned completely pale.
pure
Also: clean
📝 In Action
Ella siempre ha tenido una reputación blanca e intachable.
B1She has always had a pure and impeccable reputation.
Mantuvo la fe blanca a pesar de todas las dificultades.
C1She kept the faith pure despite all the difficulties.
half note
📝 In Action
El compás de cuatro por cuatro permite cuatro negras o dos blancas.
B2Four-four time allows for four quarter notes or two half notes.
Vocabulary Collections
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: blanca
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'blanca' to describe a feminine thing?
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👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The Spanish word 'blanco/a' comes not from the Latin word for white (*albus*), but from a Germanic language, likely Old Frankish *blank*, meaning 'shining' or 'bright.' This shows how Germanic tribes influenced the Spanish language after the fall of the Roman Empire.
First recorded: 10th century (in masculine form, 'blanco')
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'blanca' mean both 'white' and 'pale'?
'Blanca' refers to the total absence of color, but when describing a person's skin, it implies a lack of color or blood due to sickness, fear, or shock, which we translate as 'pale'.