especies
/es-PEE-see-es/
spices
The word "especies" can refer to culinary spices used in cooking.
📝 In Action
Esta receta lleva muchas especies exóticas.
A2This recipe uses many exotic spices.
El aroma de las especies en el mercado es increíble.
B1The aroma of the spices in the market is incredible.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine Plural
Remember that 'especies' is the plural of 'especie,' which is always a feminine word, so you would use feminine articles like 'las' (las especies).
⭐ Usage Tips
Use Plural for Collective Spices
Even if you are talking about a general category, you usually use the plural 'especies' when referring to culinary flavorings, much like saying 'ingredients'.
In a biological context, "especies" means species, referring to distinct groups of organisms.
especies(noun)
species
?biological classification
kinds
?general classification or type
,sorts
?general classification or type
📝 In Action
La extinción de especies es un problema grave.
B1The extinction of species is a serious problem.
Descubrieron nuevas especies de peces en el océano profundo.
B2They discovered new species of fish in the deep ocean.
Hay diferentes especies de opiniones sobre este tema.
C1There are different kinds of opinions on this topic.
💡 Grammar Points
Singular vs. Plural
English uses 'species' for both singular and plural. Spanish always uses 'una especie' (singular) and 'unas especies' (plural).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Incorrect Gender Agreement
Mistake: "Los especies animales."
Correction: Las especies animales. (Remember 'especie' is feminine, so use 'las'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
The meaning is usually clear from the context: if you're talking about animals, it means 'species'; if you're talking about food, it means 'spices'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: especies
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'especies' to mean 'spices'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'especies' mean both 'spices' and 'species'?
Both meanings come from the same basic idea: 'a kind or sort of thing.' Spices are different 'kinds' of flavorings, and biological species are different 'kinds' of life forms. The Spanish language kept this original double meaning.
Is there a singular form?
Yes, the singular form is 'especie' (feminine). You would use it when talking about a single type or kind, like 'una especie de pájaro' (one kind of bird).