centinela
“centinela” means “sentry” in Spanish (a soldier stationed to keep guard).
sentry, sentinel
Also: guard, lookout
📝 In Action
El centinela se mantuvo alerta toda la noche.
B1The sentry remained alert all night long.
Pusieron a una centinela en la puerta principal del palacio.
B2They placed a guard at the main door of the palace.
Los viejos robles parecen centinelas del bosque.
C1The old oaks look like sentinels of the forest.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: centinela
Question 1 of 3
If you want to say 'the female sentry', which is correct?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Italian word 'sentinella', which likely comes from 'sentire', meaning to feel, hear, or perceive.
First recorded: 16th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'centinela' only used in the army?
While it has military origins, it can be used for any guard or even metaphorically for things that watch over a place, like a lighthouse or a tall tree.
Is there a difference between 'guardia' and 'centinela'?
Yes. A 'guardia' can be a police officer or anyone protecting something. A 'centinela' is specifically a lookout stationed at a post.
Can I use 'centinela' for a security camera?
It is more common for people, but in poetic or formal writing, you could call a camera a 'centinela electrónico'.