cielo
“cielo” means “sky” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
sky
Also: ceiling
📝 In Action
El cielo está azul hoy.
A1The sky is blue today.
Vimos muchas estrellas en el cielo nocturno.
A2We saw many stars in the night sky.
El avión volaba por encima de las nubes, en un cielo despejado.
B1The plane was flying above the clouds in a clear sky.
heaven
📝 In Action
Mi abuela cree que los ángeles viven en el cielo.
A2My grandmother believes that angels live in heaven.
Rezar para ir al cielo es parte de su fe.
B1Praying to go to heaven is part of their faith.
Esta playa es tan bonita, es como el cielo en la tierra.
B2This beach is so beautiful, it's like heaven on earth.
darling / sweetheart / honey
Also: my love
📝 In Action
Hola, cielo, ¿cómo estás?
B1Hi, sweetheart, how are you?
Gracias por la ayuda, eres un cielo.
B1Thanks for the help, you're a darling.
No te preocupes, mi cielo, todo va a estar bien.
B2Don't worry, my love, everything is going to be okay.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cielo
Question 1 of 2
If someone says, 'Gracias, eres un cielo,' what do they mean?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'caelum', which meant both 'sky' and 'heaven', just like in Spanish today. The original Latin word was related to the idea of something hollow or vaulted.
First recorded: Used since the earliest forms of Spanish, around the 10th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'cielo' be plural ('cielos')?
Yes! 'Cielos' can mean 'skies', especially in an artistic or poetic sense ('Me encantan los cielos de este artista' - I love this artist's skies). It's also very common in the expression '¡Cielos!', which is a dramatic way to say 'Heavens!' or 'Oh my gosh!'
How is 'cielo' different from 'paraíso'?
While both can be translated as 'heaven', 'cielo' is the more common, general term for the afterlife in many religions. 'Paraíso' (paradise) is often used to describe a perfect, beautiful place, like the Garden of Eden, or figuratively for a beautiful location on Earth, like a tropical island.