cuadro
/KWAA-droh/
painting
Cuadro can mean 'painting,' referring to art displayed on a wall.
📝 In Action
Compramos un cuadro muy bonito para la sala.
A1We bought a very beautiful painting for the living room.
El museo tiene un cuadro famoso de Goya.
A2The museum has a famous painting by Goya.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Check
Remember that 'cuadro' is always masculine, even though it ends in '-o'. You must use 'el cuadro' or 'un cuadro'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Picture vs. Photo
Use 'cuadro' for paintings, drawings, or framed artwork. Use 'foto' or 'fotografía' for pictures taken with a camera.
The word cuadro is often used to describe the geometric shape 'square.'
cuadro(noun)
square
?geometric shape
,grid square
?on a map or board
frame
?bicycle or machinery structure
,field (baseball)
?sports context (often 'cuadro de béisbol')
📝 In Action
Dibuja un cuadro perfecto con cuatro lados iguales.
A2Draw a perfect square with four equal sides.
El cuadro de la bicicleta es demasiado grande para mí.
B1The frame of the bicycle is too big for me.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Cuadrado'
Mistake: "Using 'cuadro' when you mean the adjective 'square-shaped'."
Correction: Use 'cuadrado' (adjective) to describe something that is square: 'una mesa cuadrada'. Use 'cuadro' (noun) to refer to the object itself: 'un cuadro'.
When referring to employees or administrators, cuadro translates to 'staff.'
cuadro(noun)
staff
?employees or administrators
,squad
?sports team
personnel
?the group of people involved
,team
?general group
📝 In Action
Necesitamos reforzar el cuadro directivo de la empresa.
B2We need to reinforce the company's management staff.
El entrenador cambió el cuadro titular antes del partido.
B1The coach changed the starting squad before the match.
💡 Grammar Points
Collective Noun
In this context, 'cuadro' refers to a group of people, acting as a collective noun, similar to 'team' or 'staff' in English.
Cuadro can also mean 'chart,' referring to an organized display of data.
cuadro(noun)
chart
?data organization
,table
?rows and columns of information
diagram
?visual representation
,symptoms
?medical context (often 'cuadro clínico')
📝 In Action
Incluí un cuadro con las ventas del último trimestre.
B1I included a chart with the sales from the last quarter.
El doctor analizó el cuadro de síntomas del paciente.
C1The doctor analyzed the patient's set of symptoms (clinical picture).
💡 Grammar Points
Medical Use
In medicine, 'cuadro' is often used to summarize all the physical signs and symptoms of a disease, like saying 'the whole clinical picture'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cuadro
Question 1 of 2
Which meaning of 'cuadro' is used in the sentence: 'El cuadro de la bicicleta se rompió.'
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cuadro' the same as 'cuadrado'?
No. 'Cuadro' is a noun meaning 'picture' or 'square shape.' 'Cuadrado' is usually the adjective meaning 'square-shaped' (e.g., 'la mesa cuadrada') or the name of the geometric shape itself (e.g., 'un cuadrado').
How do I know if 'cuadro' means 'picture' or 'chart'?
Context is key! If you are in a museum or talking about home decor, it means 'picture' or 'painting.' If you are in a meeting or looking at data, it means 'chart' or 'table.'