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fiestas

fee-es-tas/ˈfjestas/

“fiestas” means “parties” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

parties, celebrations

Also: gatherings
NounfA1
Three stylized figures wearing party hats are celebrating by throwing colorful confetti.

📝 In Action

Siempre hacemos muchas fiestas en el verano.

A1

We always have many parties in the summer.

¿Vas a ir a las fiestas de cumpleaños de Ana?

A1

Are you going to Ana's birthday parties?

Tuvimos que cancelar las fiestas por la lluvia.

A2

We had to cancel the celebrations because of the rain.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • celebraciones (celebrations)
  • reuniones (gatherings)

Common Collocations

  • organizar fiestas – to organize parties
  • fiestas privadas – private parties

holidays, festivities

Also: festivals
NounfA2
A street decorated with colorful festive flags and strings of glowing lights hanging overhead.

📝 In Action

Durante las fiestas de Navidad, la ciudad está muy decorada.

A2

During the Christmas holidays, the city is very decorated.

Las fiestas patronales duran una semana entera.

B1

The local patron saint festivities last an entire week.

Muchos negocios cierran por las fiestas de fin de año.

A2

Many businesses close for the year-end holidays.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • vacaciones (vacation/time off)
  • feriados (public holidays (Latin America))

Common Collocations

  • fiestas navideñas – Christmas holidays
  • fiestas patrias – national holidays

Idioms & Expressions

  • estar de fiestas – to be celebrating/to be in a festive mood or period

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: fiestas

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'fiestas' to refer to a season, not a specific social event?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
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📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'festa,' which was the plural form of 'festum' meaning 'feast' or 'holiday.' The meaning has always centered around joy and celebration.

First recorded: Old Spanish (around 12th century)

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: festaPortuguese: festa

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'fiestas' and 'vacaciones'?

'Fiestas' refers to celebrations, parties, or public holidays (like Christmas). 'Vacaciones' means time off work or school, usually for personal travel or relaxation (like summer break).

Why is 'fiestas' plural when talking about Christmas?

Spanish often uses the plural form 'las fiestas' (the festivities) to encompass the entire celebratory period from Christmas Eve through New Year's Day, rather than focusing on a single day.