Inklingo
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círculo

/SÍR-koo-loh/

circle

A bold, thick red line forming a perfect geometric circle on a white background.

Círculo (circle) as a geometric shape.

círculo(noun)

mA1

circle

?

geometric shape

Also:

ring

?

a circular boundary or shape

,

loop

?

something shaped like a circle

📝 In Action

Dibuja un círculo grande en la pizarra.

A1

Draw a large circle on the board.

Nos sentamos en círculo para hacer la actividad.

A2

We sat in a circle to do the activity.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • redondel (circle/ring)
  • anillo (ring)

Common Collocations

  • trazar un círculo – to draw/trace a circle
  • círculo perfecto – perfect circle

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun

Remember that 'círculo' is always masculine, so you use 'el' or 'un' before it (e.g., 'el círculo').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Pronunciation Stress

Mistake: "Pronouncing it CIR-cu-LO (stressing the last syllable)."

Correction: The accent mark tells you exactly where to put the stress: CÍR-cu-lo. The first syllable is the strong one.

⭐ Usage Tips

Preposition 'En'

To describe people sitting in a circular arrangement, use 'en círculo': 'Estamos en círculo'.

Five simplified, diverse characters standing close together in a circle, holding hands, representing a social group.

Círculo (circle) meaning a social group or network.

círculo(noun)

mB1

circle

?

social group/network

Also:

clique

?

small, exclusive group

,

sphere

?

area of influence

📝 In Action

Ella solo confía en su círculo íntimo de amigos.

B1

She only trusts her inner circle of friends.

Es difícil entrar en ese círculo profesional si no conoces a nadie.

B2

It’s difficult to enter that professional circle if you don’t know anyone.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • círculo social – social circle
  • círculo de influencia – sphere of influence

⭐ Usage Tips

Use with Adjectives

You often hear 'círculo' paired with adjectives like 'íntimo' (intimate/close) or 'reducido' (small/limited) when referring to a small group of trusted people.

An illustration showing the life cycle of a plant in a closed loop: a seed leads to a sprout, which leads to an apple, which returns to the seed.

Círculo (cycle) referring to a repetitive sequence of events.

círculo(noun)

mB2

cycle

?

repetitive sequence of events

Also:

circuit

?

a defined route or area

📝 In Action

Necesitamos romper este círculo vicioso de deuda y gasto.

B2

We need to break this vicious cycle of debt and spending.

Finalmente, pudo cerrar un círculo de su pasado.

C1

Finally, he was able to close a chapter (literally: a circle) from his past.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • círculo vicioso – vicious circle/cycle
  • cerrar el círculo – to close the loop/come full circle

⭐ Usage Tips

Figurative Use

The phrase 'círculo vicioso' is extremely common and is used exactly like 'vicious cycle' in English to describe a bad situation that feeds itself.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: círculo

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'círculo' in its figurative meaning of a repeating, negative situation?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

circular(circular (adjective) or to circulate (verb)) - adjective/verb
circunferencia(circumference) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

¿Por qué 'círculo' lleva acento?

The word 'círculo' has three syllables, and the stress falls on the third-to-last syllable (CÍR-cu-lo). Spanish requires a written accent mark on all words where the stress falls on the third-to-last syllable, making it easier for you to know exactly how to pronounce it.

Is 'círculo' masculine or feminine?

'Círculo' is always masculine. You must use 'el' or 'un' before it, even if you are talking about a group of women (e.g., 'el círculo de amigas').