campo
/kahm-poh/
countryside
The most common meaning of campo is the countryside or a large, open farmer's field.
campo(Noun)
countryside
?The general area outside of towns and cities
field
?An area of land used for farming or just open land
,country
?As in 'the country vs. the city', not a nation
📝 In Action
Mi abuela vive en el campo, lejos de la ciudad.
A1My grandmother lives in the countryside, far from the city.
Vimos muchas vacas en un campo verde.
A1We saw many cows in a green field.
Este fin de semana vamos de excursión al campo.
A2This weekend we're going on a trip to the country.
💡 Grammar Points
'El campo' vs 'Un campo'
Use 'el campo' (with 'the') to talk about the countryside in general. Use 'un campo' (with 'a') to talk about a specific, single field.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Country vs. Country
Mistake: "Quiero visitar el campo de México."
Correction: To talk about a nation, use 'país': 'Quiero visitar el país de México.' Use 'campo' for the rural area within that nation: 'Me gusta el campo mexicano.'
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking About the Outdoors
'Ir al campo' (to go to the countryside) is a very common phrase for any outdoor activity outside the city, like hiking or having a picnic.
Campo is also used to refer to a sports field or pitch, such as a campo de fútbol.
campo(Noun)
field
?For sports like soccer or baseball
pitch
?British English for a soccer field
,court
?For sports like tennis
📝 In Action
Los jugadores ya están en el campo de fútbol.
A2The players are already on the soccer field.
Construyeron un nuevo campo de béisbol en el parque.
B1They built a new baseball field in the park.
Vamos a reservar un campo de tenis para el sábado.
B1Let's book a tennis court for Saturday.
⭐ Usage Tips
'Campo' vs. 'Cancha'
In many parts of Latin America, 'cancha' is more common for sports like basketball, tennis, or even soccer. 'Campo' is always understood, but using 'cancha' can make you sound more local.
In professional contexts, campo refers to a field of study or area of expertise.
campo(Noun)
field
?An area of study, expertise, or activity
area
?A subject or sphere of interest
,domain
?A specific sphere of knowledge
📝 In Action
La Dra. Ramírez es una experta en el campo de la genética.
B1Dr. Ramírez is an expert in the field of genetics.
Este es un campo de estudio muy competitivo.
B2This is a very competitive field of study.
Hay muchas oportunidades en el campo de la tecnología.
B1There are many opportunities in the technology field.
⭐ Usage Tips
Think Abstractly
This meaning is a direct parallel to the English phrase 'field of study' or 'in my field.' It takes the idea of a physical 'field' and makes it abstract.
Campo can also mean a structured, non-recreational camp, such as a training camp or refugee camp.
📝 In Action
Establecieron un campo de refugiados cerca de la frontera.
B2They established a refugee camp near the border.
Los soldados pasaron seis semanas en un campo de entrenamiento.
B2The soldiers spent six weeks in a training camp.
⭐ Usage Tips
'Campo' vs. 'Campamento'
For recreational camping, 'campamento' is the right word. 'Campo' is used for more large-scale, organized, or institutional 'camps,' often with a serious purpose.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: campo
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'campo' to mean a field of study?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'campo' and 'país'?
'País' refers to a country as a nation (like México, España, Argentina). 'Campo' refers to the countryside, the rural areas with farms and nature, within any country. So, you can talk about 'el campo' of a 'país'.
For sports, should I use 'campo' or 'cancha'?
Both can be right! 'Campo' is great for large, open fields like for soccer ('campo de fútbol') or golf ('campo de golf'). 'Cancha' is very common, especially in Latin America, for courts with clear boundaries, like for tennis ('cancha de tenis') or basketball ('cancha de baloncesto'). When in doubt, 'campo' is widely understood for fields, and 'cancha' for courts.