escudos
“escudos” means “shields” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
shields
Also: bucklers
📝 In Action
Los soldados romanos llevaban escudos grandes para protegerse.
A2The Roman soldiers carried large shields to protect themselves.
Necesitamos más escudos contra el sol en la playa.
B1We need more shields (protection) against the sun at the beach.
coats of arms, crests
Also: badges
📝 In Action
Los escudos de las familias nobles son muy elaborados.
B1The coats of arms of the noble families are very elaborate.
El museo exhibe varios escudos medievales.
B2The museum exhibits several medieval emblems.
escudos
Also: money
📝 In Action
Necesitas 500 escudos para comprar el billete en Cabo Verde.
B2You need 500 escudos to buy the ticket in Cape Verde.
Antes del euro, Portugal usaba los escudos.
C1Before the euro, Portugal used escudos.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: escudos
Question 1 of 2
Which meaning of 'escudos' is used when discussing a country's official symbol?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *scutum*, which meant 'shield.' Over time, because shields often bore symbols, the word also came to mean 'coat of arms.' The currency usage arose because the coins often featured a shield design.
First recorded: Medieval period (as *escudo*)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'escudos' related to the word 'escuela' (school)?
No. Although they look similar, 'escudos' comes from the Latin word for 'shield,' while 'escuela' comes from the Latin word for 'leisure' or 'learning.' They have completely different origins.
If I am talking about one shield, what word should I use?
You should use the singular form: 'escudo' (without the 's').