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fondo

/fon-doh/

bottom

A transparent glass jar shown in cross-section with a single pebble resting on the very bottom.

Fondo means the bottom of a container or space.

fondo(Noun)

mA2

bottom

?

of a container, the sea, etc.

,

back

?

of a room, a stage, etc.

Also:

end

?

of a hallway or street

📝 In Action

Las llaves están en el fondo de mi mochila.

A2

The keys are at the bottom of my backpack.

El baño está al fondo del pasillo.

A2

The bathroom is at the end of the hall.

Vimos peces de colores en el fondo del mar.

B1

We saw colorful fish on the bottom of the sea.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • superficie (surface)
  • cima (top, summit)

Common Collocations

  • el fondo del mar – the bottom of the sea / the seabed
  • al fondo de – at the back of / at the end of

Idioms & Expressions

  • tocar fondo – to hit rock bottom

❌ Common Pitfalls

'Fondo' vs. 'Hondo'

Mistake: "El mar es muy fondo."

Correction: El mar es muy hondo. 'Fondo' is a noun (a thing: the bottom), while 'hondo' is an adjective (a description: deep).

⭐ Usage Tips

Locating Things

Use the phrase 'al fondo de...' to say something is at the back or far end of a place, like a room, a store, or a hallway.

A large, simple red circle placed prominently in the foreground against a smooth, light blue background.

In art or design, fondo refers to the background.

fondo(Noun)

mB1

background

?

of a picture, scene, or computer screen

📝 In Action

En el fondo de la foto se ven las montañas.

B1

In the background of the photo, you can see the mountains.

Me gusta la música de fondo que ponen en este café.

B1

I like the background music they play in this cafe.

Cambié el fondo de pantalla de mi teléfono.

B1

I changed the wallpaper on my phone.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • segundo plano (background)

Antonyms

  • primer plano (foreground)

Common Collocations

  • música de fondo – background music
  • fondo de pantalla – wallpaper / desktop background
  • ruido de fondo – background noise

⭐ Usage Tips

Visuals and Sounds

This meaning of 'fondo' is about what you see or hear behind the main subject. Think of it as the 'scenery' of a situation.

A large, pink ceramic piggy bank sitting on a table, with many gold coins spilling out of the slot on its back.

When referring to finances, fondo means fund or funds.

fondo(Noun)

mB1

fund(s)

?

financial

Also:

capital

?

resources

,

endowment

?

for an institution

📝 In Action

Necesitamos recaudar fondos para la nueva biblioteca.

B1

We need to raise funds for the new library.

El gobierno estableció un fondo de emergencia para las víctimas.

B2

The government established an emergency fund for the victims.

Invirtió su dinero en un fondo de pensiones.

B2

He invested his money in a pension fund.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • capital (capital)
  • dinero (money)

Common Collocations

  • recaudar fondos – to raise funds / to fundraise
  • fondos de inversión – investment funds
  • falta de fondos – lack of funds

💡 Grammar Points

Often Plural: 'Fondos'

When talking about money or financial resources, you'll almost always see this word in its plural form, 'fondos'.

A simple red apple sliced in half, revealing a brightly glowing, warm yellow light emanating from its core.

Fondo can also refer to the essence or true nature of something.

fondo(Noun)

mB2

essence

?

the true nature of something

,

core

?

the central part of an issue

Also:

substance

?

as in 'the substance of an argument'

📝 In Action

En el fondo, sé que tienes razón.

B2

Deep down, I know you're right.

No has entendido el fondo de la cuestión.

C1

You haven't understood the heart of the matter.

Parece una persona fría, pero en el fondo es muy amable.

B2

He seems like a cold person, but deep down he's very kind.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • esencia (essence)
  • núcleo (core, nucleus)

Common Collocations

  • el fondo del asunto – the heart of the matter
  • el fondo de la cuestión – the core of the issue

Idioms & Expressions

  • en el fondo – deep down, basically, at heart

⭐ Usage Tips

Going Beyond the Surface

This meaning is figurative. It's like you're looking past the surface of a person or problem to see what's at the 'bottom' or core.

A cross-section view showing a person digging a very deep, narrow hole in brown soil. The hole extends far down out of sight.

Fondo translates to depth, often used to describe detailed investigation ('a fondo').

fondo(Noun)

mB2

depth

?

in the phrase 'a fondo' (in depth)

,

thoroughness

?

in the phrase 'a fondo' (thoroughly)

📝 In Action

Tenemos que investigar este problema a fondo.

B2

We have to investigate this problem in depth.

Limpiaron la casa a fondo antes de la fiesta.

B2

They cleaned the house thoroughly before the party.

Conozco a fondo la historia de esta ciudad.

C1

I know the history of this city inside and out.

Word Connections

Antonyms

  • superficialmente (superficially)

Idioms & Expressions

  • a fondo – in depth, thoroughly, to the core
  • conocer a fondo – to know inside and out, to know thoroughly

⭐ Usage Tips

The Power of 'A Fondo'

Think of 'a fondo' as a single vocabulary item meaning 'thoroughly' or 'in depth'. It's a super useful phrase for emphasizing completeness.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: fondo

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'fondo' to mean 'deep down' or 'essentially'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

profundo(deep) - adjective
profundidad(depth) - noun
profundizar(to deepen, to go into depth) - verb
ahondar(to delve into, to deepen) - verb

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.