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foco

FOH-koh/ˈfoko/

light bulb

Also: bulb
NounmA1
Mexico & Latin AmericaSpain
A single glowing incandescent light bulb hanging from a cord.

📝 In Action

Necesito comprar un foco nuevo para la lámpara de mi cuarto.

A1

I need to buy a new light bulb for my bedroom lamp.

El foco de la cocina se fundió ayer.

A2

The kitchen light bulb burned out yesterday.

Es mejor usar focos ahorradores para gastar menos luz.

B1

It's better to use energy-saving bulbs to use less electricity.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • bombilla (light bulb (common in Spain))
  • lámpara (lamp/bulb)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • cambiar un foco – to change a light bulb
  • foco LED – LED bulb

spotlight

Also: headlight
NounmB1
A large theater spotlight shining a bright beam of light downwards.

📝 In Action

Los focos del estadio son muy potentes.

B1

The stadium spotlights are very powerful.

Uno de los focos de mi coche no funciona.

B1

One of my car's headlights isn't working.

El actor se quedó quieto bajo el foco.

B2

The actor stood still under the spotlight.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • proyector (floodlight/projector)
  • farol (lantern/headlight)

Common Collocations

  • focos delanteros – front headlights
  • estar bajo el foco – to be in the spotlight

focus

Also: outbreak, core
NounmB2
A single bright red flower standing out in a field of muted grey flowers.

📝 In Action

No podemos perder el foco de nuestra misión.

B2

We cannot lose focus on our mission.

Los científicos encontraron el foco de la infección.

C1

Scientists found the source/outbreak of the infection.

Esta zona es un foco de conflictos.

C1

This area is a hotbed of conflicts.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • periferia (periphery/edge)

Common Collocations

  • foco de atención – center of attention
  • foco de infección – source of infection
  • perder el foco – to lose focus

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: foco

Question 1 of 3

If you are in a Mexican hardware store and need a light bulb for your lamp, what should you ask for?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
enfocar(to focus) — Verb
enfoque(approach/focus) — Noun
desenfocado(out of focus) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
locopocochocó
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'focus', which originally meant 'hearth' or 'fireplace'. Since the fireplace was the center of the home and the source of light/heat, the word evolved to mean 'center' and eventually 'light source'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: focusFrench: feu (fire)Italian: fuoco

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'foco' the same as 'bombilla'?

Yes, they both mean 'light bulb'. 'Foco' is used throughout Latin America, while 'bombilla' is the standard term in Spain.

Can I use 'foco' to talk about my mental concentration?

Yes, you can use 'foco' as a noun (e.g., 'el foco de atención'), but to say 'I am focusing', you should use the verb 'enfocar' or 'enfocarse'.

How do you say 'headlights' using this word?

You can say 'los focos delanteros' or simply 'los focos del carro/coche'.