espíritu
/es-PÍ-ri-tu/
spirit
El espíritu (the spirit) as a soul or non-physical being.
espíritu(noun)
spirit
?soul, non-physical being
,soul
?the inner self
ghost
?phantom (literary or older usage)
,essence
?core being of something
📝 In Action
Dicen que el cuerpo muere, pero el espíritu es eterno.
B1They say the body dies, but the spirit is eternal.
Creemos que el espíritu de la montaña nos protege.
B2We believe the spirit of the mountain protects us.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun Rule
Even though many Spanish words ending in 'u' might seem unusual, 'espíritu' is strictly masculine (el espíritu), following its Latin root.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using Feminine Articles
Mistake: "La espíritu"
Correction: El espíritu. Always use the masculine article 'el' or 'un' before this noun.
⭐ Usage Tips
Religious Context
When talking about the 'soul' or the 'Holy Spirit,' 'espíritu' is the correct term.
El espíritu (the spirit) representing a strong attitude or feeling of enthusiasm.
espíritu(noun)
spirit
?attitude or feeling
,mindset
?way of thinking
enthusiasm
?energy
,essence
?the true meaning or intent (e.g., of a law)
📝 In Action
Me gusta el espíritu de equipo que hay en esta oficina.
A2I like the team spirit (attitude) that exists in this office.
Ella siempre tiene un espíritu aventurero y positivo.
B1She always has an adventurous and positive spirit (mindset).
El abogado dijo que la ley falló en el espíritu, aunque no en la letra.
C1The lawyer said the law failed in the spirit (intent), though not in the letter.
💡 Grammar Points
Using Adjectives
Because 'espíritu' is masculine, any adjective you use to describe the attitude must also be masculine: 'un espíritu fuerte' (a strong spirit), 'un espíritu creativo' (a creative spirit).
⭐ Usage Tips
Fixed Phrases
Memorize common phrases like 'espíritu de lucha' (fighting spirit) or 'espíritu navideño' (Christmas spirit) to sound more natural.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: espíritu
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'espíritu' to describe someone's general attitude or character?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Por qué 'espíritu' es masculino si termina en 'u'?
While Spanish nouns ending in 'a' are often feminine, and those ending in 'o' are often masculine, 'espíritu' follows the gender of its original Latin root, *spiritus*, which was masculine. Therefore, always use 'el' or 'un' with it.
Is 'espíritu' ever used to mean 'alcohol'?
Yes, but usually in older or technical contexts, like chemistry or medicine, where *espíritus* refers to distilled liquids. In everyday modern Spanish, use 'alcohol' or specific terms like 'licor' or 'aguardiente' instead.