bloque
/BLO-keh/
block
A simple concrete block, illustrating the meaning of 'bloque' as a solid piece of material.
bloque(noun)
block
?a solid piece of material (concrete, wood, ice)
chunk
?a large piece of something solid
,slab
?a thick, flat piece
📝 In Action
Necesitamos un bloque de cemento para arreglar la pared.
A1We need a concrete block to fix the wall.
El escultor está trabajando en un bloque de mármol.
B1The sculptor is working on a block of marble.
Compré un bloque grande de queso para la fiesta.
A2I bought a large block of cheese for the party.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Masculine
Remember that 'bloque' is always masculine, so you must use 'el' (the) or 'un' (a/an) before it.
⭐ Usage Tips
Building Blocks
In the context of children's toys, 'bloques' is the standard word for building blocks.
This large residential structure is known as an 'apartment block' or 'bloque de apartamentos'.
bloque(noun)
apartment block
?a large residential building
city block
?the distance between two streets
📝 In Action
Mi amigo vive en el bloque de pisos al final de la calle.
A2My friend lives in the apartment block at the end of the street.
Solo tienes que caminar dos bloques más y llegas.
A2You only have to walk two blocks more and you arrive.
El incendio afectó a todo el bloque de viviendas.
B1The fire affected the entire housing block.
❌ Common Pitfalls
City Block Usage
Mistake: "Using 'bloque' for 'city block' in all Spanish-speaking areas."
Correction: While understood everywhere, 'manzana' is more common than 'bloque' for 'city block' in many parts of Latin America, especially Mexico and the Caribbean. Use 'bloque' primarily for the building itself or general distance.
When 'bloque' refers to a political or economic grouping, it means a unified 'bloc' or alliance.
bloque(noun)
bloc
?a political or economic grouping
coalition
?a temporary alliance
,group
?a collection of things or people
📝 In Action
Los países formaron un bloque comercial para negociar mejor.
B2The countries formed a trade bloc to negotiate better.
El bloque opositor votó en contra de la nueva ley.
C1The opposition bloc voted against the new law.
La computadora procesa los datos en bloques de información.
C1The computer processes the data in blocks of information.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Context
Use this meaning primarily when discussing politics, international relations, or data structures. For casual groups of friends, use words like 'grupo' or 'equipo'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: bloque
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'bloque' in the sense of a political alliance?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'bloque' the same as 'bloqueo'?
No, they are related but different! 'Bloque' is the solid object or group (the noun). 'Bloqueo' is the action or result of blocking something, like a traffic jam or a political embargo (the obstruction).
Can I use 'bloque' when talking about a mental block?
Yes, you can! The phrase 'bloqueo mental' (mental block) uses the related noun 'bloqueo,' but 'bloque' itself can sometimes be used figuratively, though 'bloqueo' is much more common for this specific context.