cualidad
“cualidad” means “quality” in Spanish (a positive character trait or virtue).
quality
Also: characteristic, virtue
📝 In Action
La paciencia es su mejor cualidad.
A1Patience is her best quality.
Buscamos a un candidato con cualidades de liderazgo.
B1We are looking for a candidate with leadership qualities.
Esta madera tiene la cualidad de ser muy resistente al agua.
B2This wood has the quality of being very water-resistant.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cualidad
Question 1 of 3
How would you say 'Your best quality' in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'qualitas,' which essentially means 'of what kind.' It comes from the word 'qualis,' which is the root for our modern word 'cuál' (which).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'cualidad' be used for a bad trait?
Technically yes, but it's very rare. In natural conversation, Spanish speakers use 'cualidad' for good traits and 'defecto' for bad ones.
What is the main difference between 'cualidad' and 'calidad'?
Think of 'cualidad' as 'a trait' (He is kind) and 'calidad' as 'the level of excellence' (This is a high-quality phone).
How do I make the word 'cualidad' plural?
Since it ends in a consonant, you simply add '-es' to get 'cualidades'.