destino
“destino” means “destination” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
destination
Also: purpose, end
📝 In Action
Nuestro destino final es la playa.
A2Our final destination is the beach.
El paquete por fin llegó a su destino.
B1The package finally arrived at its destination.
El dinero tiene un destino específico: la educación de mis hijos.
B2The money has a specific purpose: my children's education.
destiny, fate
Also: lot
📝 In Action
Creo que nuestro destino era conocernos.
B1I think it was our destiny to meet each other.
Aceptó su destino con valentía.
B2He accepted his fate with bravery.
Nadie puede escapar de su destino.
B1No one can escape their destiny.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: destino
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'destino' to mean 'destination' (a place you're going)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'destināre', which meant 'to make firm' or 'to establish'. The idea was that your future was something already firmly set in place, just like a physical post set in the ground.
First recorded: Around the 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between 'destino' (destiny) and 'suerte' (luck)?
Think of 'destino' as a movie script that's already written – it’s a grand plan or an unavoidable path. 'Suerte' is more like rolling dice – it's random chance that can be good ('buena suerte') or bad ('mala suerte') in any given moment. You believe in 'destino', but you have 'suerte'.
Can I use 'destino' for my house address?
Not usually. For your specific street and number, you should use 'dirección'. You could say your house is your 'destino' for the day, meaning it's the place you're headed, but if someone asks for your address, they want your 'dirección'.