espías
“espías” means “spies” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
spies
Also: secret agents
📝 In Action
Los espías del gobierno fueron descubiertos.
B1The government spies were discovered.
Necesitamos más espías para esta misión secreta.
A2We need more spies for this secret mission.
you spy
Also: you watch secretly
📝 In Action
Si espías a tu vecino, podrías meterte en problemas.
B1If you spy on your neighbor, you could get into trouble.
¿Por qué siempre espías lo que hago en el teléfono?
B1Why do you always spy on what I do on the phone?
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: espías
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'espías' as the action of watching someone (a verb)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The root of 'espías' comes from the verb 'espiar', which entered Spanish from Vulgar Latin, likely originating from a Germanic word related to watching and observation.
First recorded: Medieval period
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'espías' always plural?
Not always! It is the plural form of the noun 'espía' (spies), but it is also the 'tú' form of the verb 'espiar' (you spy). You must look at the context to know which one it is.
How do I say 'one spy'?
You use the singular form 'espía'. Remember to use 'el' or 'la' depending on the person's gender: 'el espía' (male spy) or 'la espía' (female spy).