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chispa

chees-pah/ˈtʃispa/

spark

Also: fleck
NounfA2
A single bright orange spark jumping from a campfire.

📝 In Action

Una chispa de la chimenea saltó a la alfombra.

A2

A spark from the fireplace jumped onto the rug.

Ten cuidado, esa herramienta suelta muchas chispas.

B1

Be careful, that tool lets off a lot of sparks.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • centella (flash/spark)

Antonyms

  • llamarada (blaze)

Common Collocations

  • saltar una chispa – to fly a spark
  • chispa eléctrica – electric spark

Idioms & Expressions

  • echar chispas – to be very angry

wit, sparkle

Also: grace
NounfB1
MexicoSpain
A cheerful fox with a clever, funny expression and a lightbulb glowing above its head.

📝 In Action

Me gusta su estilo, tiene mucha chispa.

B1

I like her style, she has a lot of sparkle/wit.

Sus chistes no tienen ninguna chispa.

B2

His jokes don't have any wit/life.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • sosería (dullness)

Common Collocations

  • tener mucha chispa – to be very witty/lively

trace

Also: bit
NounfB2
A single green sprout growing out of a vast, dry desert.

📝 In Action

Todavía queda una chispa de esperanza en sus ojos.

B2

There is still a trace of hope in his eyes.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ápice (iota/trace)
  • pizca (pinch/tiny bit)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • una chispa de esperanza – a glimmer of hope
  • una chispa de ingenio – a flash of genius

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "chispa" in Spanish:

bit→fleck→grace→spark→sparkle→trace→wit→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: chispa

Question 1 of 2

If your boss is 'echando chispas', what should you probably do?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
chispear(to drizzle or to spark) — Verb
chispeante(sparkling/witty) — Adjective
chispazo(large spark or electric shock) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
avispaobispa
📚 Etymology▼

Likely an onomatopoeic creation—meaning the word was invented to sound like the physical 'pop' or 'crack' a spark makes.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: chispa

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'chispa' always mean a fire spark?

No! While it started with fire, it's actually more common in daily Spanish to use it when talking about someone's funny personality or to say someone is very angry.

Is it the same as 'brillo' (brightness)?

Not quite. 'Brillo' is a steady shine, whereas 'chispa' is a sudden, energetic burst, whether it's light or a clever comment.