espíritu
“espíritu” means “spirit” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
spirit, soul
Also: ghost, essence
📝 In Action
Dicen que el cuerpo muere, pero el espíritu es eterno.
B1They say the body dies, but the spirit is eternal.
Creemos que el espíritu de la montaña nos protege.
B2We believe the spirit of the mountain protects us.
spirit, mindset
Also: enthusiasm, essence
📝 In Action
Me gusta el espíritu de equipo que hay en esta oficina.
A2I like the team spirit (attitude) that exists in this office.
Ella siempre tiene un espíritu aventurero y positivo.
B1She always has an adventurous and positive spirit (mindset).
El abogado dijo que la ley falló en el espíritu, aunque no en la letra.
C1The lawyer said the law failed in the spirit (intent), though not in the letter.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: espíritu
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'espíritu' to describe someone's general attitude or character?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Latin word *spiritus*, which originally meant 'breath' or 'air.' This meaning later expanded to include the 'life force,' 'soul,' and finally, the 'non-physical part of a person' or 'attitude.'
First recorded: Around the 13th century in Spanish, maintaining its connection to the concepts of breath and life.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
¿Por qué 'espíritu' es masculino si termina en 'u'?
While Spanish nouns ending in 'a' are often feminine, and those ending in 'o' are often masculine, 'espíritu' follows the gender of its original Latin root, *spiritus*, which was masculine. Therefore, always use 'el' or 'un' with it.
Is 'espíritu' ever used to mean 'alcohol'?
Yes, but usually in older or technical contexts, like chemistry or medicine, where *espíritus* refers to distilled liquids. In everyday modern Spanish, use 'alcohol' or specific terms like 'licor' or 'aguardiente' instead.