espía
/ess-PEE-ah/
spy
The noun espía means 'spy' or 'secret agent.'
espía(noun)
spy
?secret agent
,secret agent
?intelligence operative
scout
?military/sports reconnaissance
📝 In Action
El espía logró infiltrarse en la base enemiga.
B1The spy managed to infiltrate the enemy base.
La espía fue descubierta mientras tomaba fotos.
A2The spy (female) was discovered while taking photos.
Mi hermana dice que soy un espía porque leo sus mensajes.
A2My sister says I am a spy because I read her messages.
💡 Grammar Points
One Word, Two Genders
In Spanish, the word 'espía' is the same whether you are talking about a man or a woman. The article (el/la) tells you the gender: 'el espía' (male spy), 'la espía' (female spy).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't Change the Ending
Mistake: "Using 'espío' or 'espía' for a female spy."
Correction: The word itself never changes its ending. Always use 'la espía' for a woman and 'el espía' for a man.
⭐ Usage Tips
Beyond Secrets
While often related to government secrets, 'espía' can also be used playfully to mean someone who is nosy or watches others too closely.
When used as a verb, espía means 'he/she/it spies.'
espía(verb)
he/she/it spies
?present tense action
,you (formal) spy
?present tense action
spy!
?affirmative command (tú form)
📝 In Action
Ella espía a sus vecinos desde la ventana.
B1She spies on her neighbors from the window.
¡Espía quién está en la puerta!
B1Spy/Look quickly who is at the door!
Usted espía los movimientos del mercado con mucha atención.
B2You (formal) observe the market movements very closely.
💡 Grammar Points
The Regular '-ar' Pattern
The verb 'espiar' follows the normal rules for verbs that end in '-ar,' making it easy to conjugate once you know the standard patterns.
⭐ Usage Tips
Command Form
The word 'espía' is the affirmative command (the 'tú' form) used to tell a friend to spy or look quickly: '¡Espía por la cerradura!' (Spy through the keyhole!).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: espía
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly refers to a female secret agent?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'espía' is the noun or the verb?
Look at the words around it. If you see 'el' or 'la' right before it, it's the noun (the person). If you see a subject like 'él,' 'ella,' or 'usted' before it, or if it is used as a direct command, it's the verb ('he/she spies').
Is there a female version of the noun 'espía'?
No. The word 'espía' is used for both men and women. You simply change the article from 'el' to 'la' to show the gender.