espía
“espía” means “spy” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
spy, secret agent
Also: scout
📝 In Action
El espía logró infiltrarse en la base enemiga.
B1The spy managed to infiltrate the enemy base.
La espía fue descubierta mientras tomaba fotos.
A2The spy (female) was discovered while taking photos.
Mi hermana dice que soy un espía porque leo sus mensajes.
A2My sister says I am a spy because I read her messages.
he/she/it spies, you (formal) spy
Also: spy!
📝 In Action
Ella espía a sus vecinos desde la ventana.
B1She spies on her neighbors from the window.
¡Espía quién está en la puerta!
B1Spy/Look quickly who is at the door!
Usted espía los movimientos del mercado con mucha atención.
B2You (formal) observe the market movements very closely.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: espía
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly refers to a female secret agent?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from Old French *espie* and Germanic roots related to looking or observing secretly, appearing in Spanish likely around the 15th century.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'espía' is the noun or the verb?
Look at the words around it. If you see 'el' or 'la' right before it, it's the noun (the person). If you see a subject like 'él,' 'ella,' or 'usted' before it, or if it is used as a direct command, it's the verb ('he/she spies').
Is there a female version of the noun 'espía'?
No. The word 'espía' is used for both men and women. You simply change the article from 'el' to 'la' to show the gender.