A simplified, colorful storybook illustration of a globe with intersecting blue grid lines defining latitude and longitude. A bright red 'X' marks a single, specific location on the map.

coordenadas

koh-or-deh-NAH-dahs

nounfB1

coordinates?geographic or mathematical reference points

Also:grid reference?mapping

📝 In Action

El avión envió sus coordenadas antes de aterrizar.

The plane sent its coordinates before landing.

Tienes que introducir las coordenadas de latitud y longitud en el mapa.

You have to enter the latitude and longitude coordinates on the map.

Las coordenadas X, Y y Z definen la posición del objeto.

The X, Y, and Z coordinates define the object's position.

Word Connections

Synonyms

ubicación (location)
posición (position)

Common Collocations

coordenadas geográficas – geographical coordinates
coordenadas GPS – GPS coordinates
pedir las coordenadas – to ask for the coordinates

💡 Grammar Points

Always Plural

Even if you are referring to a single set of reference numbers, 'coordenadas' is almost always used in its plural form in Spanish, just like in English ('coordinates').

Feminine Noun

Remember that 'coordenadas' is a feminine plural noun, so any adjectives or articles used with it must also be feminine and plural (e.g., 'las coordenadas exactas').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Singular Form

Mistake: "Dame la coordenada."

Correction: Dame las coordenadas. (Always use the plural form when requesting location information.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Technical Context

This word is most often encountered in technical, navigation, or travel contexts. If you are just talking about where something is generally, use 'ubicación' (location) instead.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: coordenadas

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'coordenadas'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

coordenada(coordinate (single reference point)) - noun

coordenar(to coordinate) - verb

coordinación(coordination) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'coordenadas' only used for geography?

No. While most commonly associated with maps (latitude and longitude), 'coordenadas' is also used in math and physics to describe positions on a graph or in space (like X, Y, and Z).

Can I use 'coordenadas' when talking about planning or organizing a party?

No, that would be confusing. If you mean 'coordinating' an event, you should use the verb 'coordinar' or the noun 'coordinación' (coordination/planning), not 'coordenadas' (the location points).