especie
“especie” means “kind” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
kind, sort, type
📝 In Action
En el parque vi una especie de pájaro que no conocía.
A2In the park I saw a kind of bird I didn't know.
Siento una especie de alegría y nervios al mismo tiempo.
B1I feel a sort of joy and nervousness at the same time.
¿Qué especie de problemas tienes?
B1What kind of problems do you have?
species
📝 In Action
El panda es una especie en peligro de extinción.
B1The panda is an endangered species.
En esta isla viven varias especies de tortugas marinas.
B2Several species of sea turtles live on this island.
Los biólogos descubrieron una nueva especie de insecto.
B2Biologists discovered a new species of insect.
in kind
Also: goods
📝 In Action
El granjero pagó a sus trabajadores en especie, dándoles comida y un lugar para vivir.
B2The farmer paid his workers in kind, giving them food and a place to live.
Parte de mi salario lo recibo en especie, como el coche de la empresa.
C1I receive part of my salary in kind, such as the company car.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: especie
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'especie' to mean 'kind' or 'sort'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'species', which meant 'sight, appearance, form, or kind'. It's the root of many English words too, like 'special', 'specific', and 'spectacle'!
First recorded: Around the 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'especie', 'tipo', and 'clase'?
They are very similar and often interchangeable for 'kind' or 'type'. 'Tipo' is probably the most common and neutral. 'Clase' can sometimes feel a bit more like 'class' or 'category'. 'Especie' is great when you're being a little vague, like 'una especie de...' ('a sort of...'). For biology, however, only 'especie' means 'species'.
Is 'especie' always feminine?
Yes, the word itself is always feminine. You always say 'la especie' or 'una especie', even if you're talking about a group that includes males, like 'una especie de pájaros' (a kind of bird).