film
“film” means “movie” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
movie, film
Also: picture
📝 In Action
¿Qué film vamos a ver esta noche?
A2What movie are we going to watch tonight?
El director presentó su nuevo film en el festival.
B1The director presented his new film at the festival.
Es un film de terror muy bien hecho.
A2It's a very well-made horror movie.
film, celluloid
Also: sheet
📝 In Action
Puso un film protector sobre la pantalla del teléfono.
B2He put a protective film on the phone screen.
El técnico analizó el film de óxido que cubría la pieza.
C1The technician analyzed the film of oxide covering the part.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: film
Question 1 of 2
¿Cuál de estas oraciones usa el sinónimo más común de 'film'?
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👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
A direct borrowing (loanword) from the English word 'film,' which itself comes from Old English 'filmen' meaning 'membrane' or 'skin.' It was adopted into Spanish to describe both the movie industry and the physical material.
First recorded: Mid-20th century (as a cinematic term)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'film' considered a standard Spanish word or a foreign loanword?
It is widely accepted and used, especially in formal or artistic contexts, but it is considered a direct borrowing from English. The Spanish Royal Academy (RAE) includes it, but often recommends 'película' for general use.
Why is 'film' masculine if 'película' is feminine?
Because 'film' is a foreign word adopted into Spanish. When Spanish adopts a foreign noun that doesn't clearly end in 'a' (which usually indicates feminine gender), it often defaults to masculine, hence 'el film'.