cuerpos
“cuerpos” means “bodies” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
bodies
Also: corpses
📝 In Action
Los cuerpos de los atletas son muy fuertes.
A1The athletes' bodies are very strong.
Necesitamos más espacio para mover nuestros cuerpos.
A2We need more space to move our bodies.
bodies, masses
Also: objects
📝 In Action
Los astrónomos estudian los cuerpos celestes que orbitan el sol.
B1Astronomers study the celestial bodies that orbit the sun.
La gravedad afecta a todos los cuerpos con masa.
B2Gravity affects all masses with weight.
corps, bodies
Also: forces
📝 In Action
Los cuerpos de seguridad respondieron rápidamente a la emergencia.
B2The security forces/corps responded quickly to the emergency.
Los cuerpos legislativos votarán la nueva ley mañana.
C1The legislative bodies will vote on the new law tomorrow.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cuerpos
Question 1 of 1
In which sentence does 'cuerpos' refer to an organized group rather than a physical mass?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Latin word *corpus*, which means 'body' or 'mass'. The Spanish language kept the core meaning but expanded it to cover large objects and organizations, just like English uses 'corps' or 'body' in a figurative sense.
First recorded: Around the 10th century (as 'cuerpo')
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cuerpos' always masculine?
Yes, 'cuerpos' is the plural of 'cuerpo,' which is a masculine noun. You must always use masculine determiners and adjectives with it (e.g., 'los cuerpos', 'cuerpos grandes').
How do I know if 'cuerpos' means 'body' or 'group'?
Look at the surrounding words! If you see words related to anatomy, health, or movement, it means physical bodies. If you see words like 'seguridad' (security), 'militar' (military), or 'gobierno' (government), it means organizations or forces.