caballos
“caballos” means “horses” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
horses
📝 In Action
Vimos muchos caballos corriendo libres en el campo.
A1We saw many horses running free in the field.
¿Cuántos caballos necesitas para tirar de esta carreta?
A2How many horses do you need to pull this cart?
horsepower
Also: HP
📝 In Action
El motor de ese coche tiene cien caballos de fuerza.
B2That car's engine has one hundred horsepower.
Necesitas más caballos para remolcar un bote tan grande.
C1You need more horsepower to tow such a large boat.
knights
Also: horses
📝 In Action
Moví mis dos caballos para proteger al rey.
B1I moved my two knights to protect the king.
En el ajedrez, los caballos se mueven en forma de L.
B1In chess, the knights move in an L shape.
Vocabulary Collections
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: caballos
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'caballos' to talk about a measurement of machine power?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Late Latin word 'caballus,' which was used to describe a sturdy, working or pack animal, contrasting with the more formal word for horse in classical Latin, 'equus.'
First recorded: Pre-8th century (as *caballus* leading to Old Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'caballos' mean both a horse and a chess piece?
This happens because the chess piece is shaped like a horse's head and often represents a mounted warrior (a knight, or 'caballero'). Spanish simply uses the animal's name to refer to its figure on the board.
Is 'caballos' a gender-neutral word?
No. 'Caballos' is the masculine plural form. It can refer to a group of male horses, a mixed group of male and female horses, or the general concept of horses. If you want to talk specifically about female horses, you would say 'yeguas'.