colonia
“colonia” means “colony” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
colony, neighborhood
Also: district
📝 In Action
La India fue una colonia británica durante muchos años.
A2India was a British colony for many years.
Necesito ir a la colonia Condesa; ¿sabes cómo llegar?
B1I need to go to the Condesa neighborhood; do you know how to get there?
cologne
Also: eau de toilette, aftershave
📝 In Action
Me compré una colonia con olor a jazmín.
A1I bought a cologne that smells like jasmine.
Usa demasiada colonia; el olor es muy fuerte.
A2She wears too much cologne; the smell is very strong.
summer camp
Also: holiday camp
📝 In Action
Los niños van a una colonia de verano para aprender inglés.
B1The children are going to a summer camp to learn English.
La colonia de la escuela se organiza en julio.
B2The school's holiday camp is organized in July.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "colonia" in Spanish:
aftershave→cologne→colony→district→holiday camp→neighborhood→summer camp→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: colonia
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'colonia' to mean a geographical area, not a scent?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin 'colonia,' meaning 'a settlement' or 'farm.' This itself comes from the verb 'colere,' which meant 'to cultivate' or 'to inhabit.' The sense of a fragrance is a later development, shortened from 'Agua de Colonia' (Water of Cologne), named after the German city.
First recorded: 13th century (in Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'colonia' y 'perfume'?
Both refer to scented liquids, but 'colonia' usually means a lighter, less concentrated scent, like an eau de toilette. 'Perfume' is typically reserved for stronger, longer-lasting fragrances.
If I'm in Mexico, should I use 'colonia' or 'barrio' for a neighborhood?
In Mexico, 'colonia' is the standard and official term for a neighborhood or district. While 'barrio' is understood, 'colonia' is what you will see on signs and addresses.