blancos
“blancos” means “white” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
white
Also: pale
📝 In Action
Necesito dos sobres blancos para las invitaciones.
A1I need two white envelopes for the invitations.
Los caballos blancos corrían por la playa.
A2The white horses were running along the beach.
targets
Also: blank spaces, bullseyes
📝 In Action
Los arqueros tienen que dar en el centro de los blancos.
B1The archers have to hit the center of the targets.
Solo complete los blancos marcados con un asterisco.
B2Only fill in the blank spaces marked with an asterisk.
Vocabulary Collections
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: blancos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'blancos' as a noun meaning 'targets'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Proto-Germanic word *blankaz, meaning 'shining' or 'gleaming.' It entered Spanish through the Gothic language, replacing the classical Latin word for white, *albus* (which survives in words like 'alba,' meaning dawn).
First recorded: Medieval Spanish (around the 12th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'blancos' mean both 'white' and 'targets'?
The meaning 'target' comes from the historical use of a white piece of cloth or paper as the object to aim at in archery or shooting practice. The two meanings are related through the color white.
Is 'blancos' ever used to refer to people?
Yes, 'blancos' can be used as a noun to refer to white people (people of European descent). However, this usage is context-dependent and often seen as sensitive or formal when discussing race and ethnicity.