fondo
“fondo” means “bottom” in Spanish. It has 5 different meanings depending on context:
bottom, back
Also: end
📝 In Action
Las llaves están en el fondo de mi mochila.
A2The keys are at the bottom of my backpack.
El baño está al fondo del pasillo.
A2The bathroom is at the end of the hall.
Vimos peces de colores en el fondo del mar.
B1We saw colorful fish on the bottom of the sea.
background
📝 In Action
En el fondo de la foto se ven las montañas.
B1In the background of the photo, you can see the mountains.
Me gusta la música de fondo que ponen en este café.
B1I like the background music they play in this cafe.
Cambié el fondo de pantalla de mi teléfono.
B1I changed the wallpaper on my phone.
fund(s)
Also: capital, endowment
📝 In Action
Necesitamos recaudar fondos para la nueva biblioteca.
B1We need to raise funds for the new library.
El gobierno estableció un fondo de emergencia para las víctimas.
B2The government established an emergency fund for the victims.
Invirtió su dinero en un fondo de pensiones.
B2He invested his money in a pension fund.
essence, core
Also: substance
📝 In Action
En el fondo, sé que tienes razón.
B2Deep down, I know you're right.
No has entendido el fondo de la cuestión.
C1You haven't understood the heart of the matter.
Parece una persona fría, pero en el fondo es muy amable.
B2He seems like a cold person, but deep down he's very kind.
depth, thoroughness
📝 In Action
Tenemos que investigar este problema a fondo.
B2We have to investigate this problem in depth.
Limpiaron la casa a fondo antes de la fiesta.
B2They cleaned the house thoroughly before the party.
Conozco a fondo la historia de esta ciudad.
C1I know the history of this city inside and out.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: fondo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'fondo' to mean 'deep down' or 'essentially'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'fundus', which meant 'bottom', 'foundation', or 'piece of land'. You can see the family resemblance in English words like 'fund', 'foundation', and 'profound' (which means 'deep').
First recorded: Around the 10th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'fondo' and 'hondo'?
It's a classic mix-up! 'Fondo' is a noun, meaning 'the bottom' (a thing). 'Hondo' is an adjective, meaning 'deep' (a description). So, a pool has a 'fondo' (bottom), and the pool itself is 'hondo' (deep).
How do I say 'background' in Spanish? I see 'fondo' and 'segundo plano'.
For most everyday situations, like a photo's background ('el fondo de la foto') or background music ('música de fondo'), 'fondo' is perfect and much more common. 'Segundo plano' (literally 'second plane') is also correct but can sound a bit more formal or technical.
Is 'fondos' just the plural of 'fondo'?
Yes, but when you see 'fondos' (plural), it almost always refers to the financial meaning: 'funds'. While you could technically talk about 'the bottoms of the oceans' ('los fondos de los océanos'), it's far more common to hear 'fondos' when talking about money.