espacio
/es-PA-syo/
space
Espacio refers to the physical area or capacity, like the room available in a car.
espacio(Noun)
space
?physical area or room
,room
?capacity, not a bedroom
gap
?an empty area between things
,place
?a spot or location
📝 In Action
No hay espacio en el coche para más maletas.
A1There's no space/room in the car for more suitcases.
Necesitamos más espacio para la mesa nueva.
A2We need more space for the new table.
Por favor, haz un poco de espacio para que pueda sentarme.
B1Please, make a little space so I can sit down.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Masculine
Even though it ends in 'o', it's good to remember that 'espacio' is always masculine. So, you'll always say 'el espacio' (the space) or 'un espacio' (a space).
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Space' vs. 'Room'
Mistake: "Quiero reservar un espacio en el hotel."
Correction: Quiero reservar una habitación en el hotel. Use 'habitación' or 'cuarto' for a room in a building like a hotel or house. 'Espacio' refers to general, open area or capacity.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking About Capacity
Think of 'espacio' as being about capacity. Is there enough room FOR something? If so, 'espacio' is often the right word. '¿Hay espacio para uno más?' (Is there room for one more?).
Espacio is also the word used for outer space or the universe.
📝 In Action
Los astronautas viajan al espacio.
A2Astronauts travel to space.
La Estación Espacial Internacional orbita la Tierra.
B1The International Space Station orbits the Earth.
Siempre me ha fascinado el espacio exterior.
B2Outer space has always fascinated me.
⭐ Usage Tips
The Universe
When talking about the universe beyond Earth, you'll almost always use 'el espacio'. It's often used without any other words, just like in English: 'explorar el espacio' (to explore space).
Espacio refers to a blank area on a page or form that needs to be filled.
📝 In Action
Escribe tu nombre en el espacio en blanco.
A2Write your name in the blank space.
Deja un espacio de dos centímetros en el margen.
B1Leave a two-centimeter space in the margin.
⭐ Usage Tips
The Space Bar
On a computer keyboard, the space bar is called 'la barra espaciadora' or simply 'el espacio'.
Espacio can also refer to a span or period of time, often used in phrases like 'in the space of an hour.'
📝 In Action
En el espacio de una hora, la tormenta pasó.
B1In the space of an hour, the storm passed.
Muchas cosas pueden cambiar en un corto espacio de tiempo.
B2A lot of things can change in a short period of time.
⭐ Usage Tips
A More Formal 'Time'
Using 'espacio' to talk about time sounds a bit more formal or literary than just saying 'tiempo'. It's great for writing or more formal speech.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: espacio
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'espacio' to talk about a period of time?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'espacio', 'lugar', and 'sitio'?
Great question! They can be tricky. Think of it this way: 'Espacio' is about open area or capacity ('Is there space?'). 'Lugar' is a general 'place' or location ('This is a beautiful place'). 'Sitio' is more like a specific 'spot' or 'site' ('Let's meet at that spot'). While they sometimes overlap, 'espacio' is the best word for 'room' or 'emptiness'.
Is the 'c' in 'espacio' pronounced like a 'th' or an 's'?
It depends on where you are! In most of Spain, the 'c' before an 'i' or 'e' is pronounced like 'th' in 'thin' (/es-PA-thyo/). In Latin America and some parts of Spain, it's pronounced like an 's' (/es-PA-syo/). Both are perfectly correct, but the 's' sound is much more common worldwide.