flota
“flota” means “fleet” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
fleet
Also: navy, cargo line
📝 In Action
La empresa de taxis renovó toda su flota de vehículos.
B1The taxi company renewed its entire fleet of vehicles.
La flota mercante lleva bienes esenciales a todo el mundo.
B2The merchant fleet carries essential goods all over the world.
he/she/it floats, you float (informal command)
Also: it drifts
📝 In Action
El corcho flota en el agua porque es ligero.
A1The cork floats on the water because it is light.
(Tú) Flota cerca de la orilla, por seguridad.
A2Float near the shore, for safety. (Informal command)
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: flota
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'flota' as a noun?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the French 'flotte,' which itself has roots in ancient Germanic languages related to water and movement.
First recorded: Around the 16th century in Spanish to refer to a naval group.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if 'flota' is the verb 'to float' or the noun 'fleet'?
Look at the words around it! If you see 'la' or 'una' right before it (e.g., 'La flota'), it is the noun 'fleet.' If you see a subject like 'él,' 'ella,' or 'eso' implied before it (e.g., 'El barco flota'), it is the verb 'floats.'