especial
“especial” means “special” in Spanish (out of the ordinary, important, or unique).
special
Also: particular, main
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Hoy es un día especial para nosotros.
A2Today is a special day for us.
Ella tiene un talento especial para la música.
B1She has a special talent for music.
Este plato necesita un ingrediente especial.
A2This dish needs a special ingredient.
Hay que prestar especial atención a los detalles.
B1You have to pay special (or particular) attention to the details.
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Quick Quiz: especial
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence is correct?
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👥 Word Family▼
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📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word 'specialis', which meant 'belonging to a particular kind or species'. Over time, it came to mean something that is distinct or out of the ordinary, just like it does today.
First recorded: Around the 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'especial' always mean the same as 'special' in English?
Almost always! It's a very reliable translation. Both words describe something unique, important, or out of the ordinary. Sometimes it can also mean 'particular', as in 'prestar especial atención' (to pay particular attention).
Why doesn't 'especial' change for masculine and feminine nouns?
It's part of a group of Spanish adjectives that end in '-l', '-e', '-z', or '-ista' which don't change their form for masculine or feminine things. This makes them a bit easier to remember! You just have one form for singular ('especial') and one for plural ('especiales').