central
/sen-TRAHL/
central
Central (adjective): Located in the middle.
central(adjective)
central
?located in the middle
,main
?most important or principal
core
?essential part
,key
?crucial
📝 In Action
El parque está en una zona central de la ciudad.
A1The park is in a central area of the city.
La idea central de su discurso fue la educación.
A2The main idea of his speech was education.
Necesitamos un punto de encuentro central para todos.
A1We need a central meeting point for everyone.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Placement
Like many Spanish adjectives describing inherent quality, 'central' often goes after the noun (e.g., 'el banco central').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Central' and 'Centro'
Mistake: "Using 'el central' when you mean 'the center' (the noun)."
Correction: Use 'central' only to describe something (adjective). The noun for 'the center' is 'el centro'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Always the Same Form
The adjective 'central' always stays the same, whether the thing it describes is masculine, feminine, singular, or plural (e.g., 'la idea central', 'los temas centrales').
Central (noun): Headquarters or main office.
central(noun)
headquarters
?main office or administrative center
exchange
?telephone exchange
,station
?main bus or train station (often shortened from 'estación central')
📝 In Action
Llamé a la central para solicitar más información.
B1I called the headquarters to request more information.
La compañía trasladó su central a la capital.
B2The company moved its main office to the capital.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Noun
When used as a noun meaning 'headquarters,' 'central' is always feminine: 'la central'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Meaning by Context
If you hear 'central' used alone as a noun, it often refers to the main administrative center, especially in government or business contexts.
Central (noun): A power plant or industrial facility producing energy.
central(noun)
power plant
?industrial facility producing energy
generating station
?facility for electricity production
📝 In Action
La central nuclear cerrará permanentemente en 2030.
B2The nuclear power plant will close permanently in 2030.
Hubo una avería en la central hidroeléctrica anoche.
C1There was a breakdown at the hydroelectric power station last night.
💡 Grammar Points
Specific Usage
In this context, 'central' almost always requires a descriptive adjective to clarify what type of plant it is (e.g., 'central nuclear' or 'central hidroeléctrica').
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: central
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'central' as a noun meaning 'headquarters'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'central' change its ending for masculine and feminine nouns?
No. When 'central' is an adjective (meaning main or located in the middle), it is one of those helpful words that stays the same regardless of the noun's gender or number. You use 'central' for 'el coche' and 'la casa'.
How is 'central' different from 'centro'?
'Centro' is a noun and means 'the center' or 'downtown' (e.g., 'Vamos al centro'). 'Central' is usually an adjective, meaning 'central' or 'main' (e.g., 'El problema central'). However, 'central' can also be a feminine noun meaning 'headquarters' or 'power plant'.