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descanso

des-CAN-so/desˈkanso/

rest

Also: break
NounmA1
A person peacefully resting in a bright blue hammock strung between two palm trees.

📝 In Action

Necesito un descanso después de caminar tanto.

A1

I need a rest after walking so much.

El médico me ordenó descanso absoluto por dos días.

B1

The doctor ordered me complete rest for two days.

¿Tomamos cinco minutos de descanso?

A1

Shall we take a five-minute break?

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • reposo (rest (often medical))
  • pausa (pause)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • tomar un descanso – to take a rest/break
  • merecer un descanso – to deserve a rest

half-time

Also: intermission, interval
NounmB1
Two uniformed soccer players sitting side-by-side on a bench during a break, hydrating with water bottles.

📝 In Action

El marcador estaba 1-0 cuando llegó el descanso.

B1

The score was 1-0 when half-time arrived.

Aprovecharemos el descanso para estirar las piernas y comprar bebidas.

B1

We will use the intermission to stretch our legs and buy drinks.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • entretiempo (half-time (often regional))
  • intermedio (intermission)

Common Collocations

  • el descanso del partido – half-time of the match

landing

Also: resting point
NounmB2technical
A brightly colored wooden staircase featuring a wide, flat landing area between the lower and upper steps.

📝 In Action

Dejamos la caja grande en el descanso antes de subir al segundo piso.

B2

We left the large box on the landing before going up to the second floor.

El sendero tiene un pequeño descanso natural donde los excursionistas se detienen.

C1

The path has a small natural resting point where hikers stop.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • rellano (landing (of stairs))

Common Collocations

  • descanso de la escalera – stair landing

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: descanso

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'descanso' in its architectural meaning?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
descansar(to rest) — Verb
descansado(rested / well-rested) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
mansocanso
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the verb 'descansar,' which evolved from the Vulgar Latin *dis-campāre*. This literally means 'to leave the field' (of battle or labor), which is a nice way of saying 'to stop working or struggling.'

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: descansoCatalan: descans

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'descanso' countable or uncountable?

It can be both. If you talk about the *state* of being relaxed, it's uncountable ('Necesito descanso' - I need rest). If you talk about a specific *period* of time, it is countable ('Tomamos dos descansos' - We took two breaks).

How is 'descanso' different from 'fiesta'?

'Descanso' is usually a short pause or period of rest from work or effort. 'Fiesta' means 'party' or 'holiday' (a full day off, often celebrating something).