fuego
“fuego” means “fire” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
fire
Also: light
📝 In Action
Cuidado, el fuego está muy caliente.
A1Be careful, the fire is very hot.
Los bomberos apagaron el fuego del edificio.
A2The firefighters put out the building fire.
Para cocinar, necesitamos hacer un fuego.
A2To cook, we need to make a fire.
Mi abuela cocina a fuego lento.
B1My grandmother cooks on low heat.
passion
Also: ardor, fieriness
📝 In Action
Habló con el fuego de un verdadero líder.
B2He spoke with the passion of a true leader.
Tenía fuego en la mirada.
B2She had a fire in her eyes.
Fire!
Also: Fire!
📝 In Action
¡Preparen, apunten, fuego!
B1Ready, aim, fire!
¡Fuego! ¡Todos fuera del edificio ahora!
A2Fire! Everybody out of the building now!
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: fuego
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'fuego' to mean 'passion' or 'intensity'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'focus', which originally meant 'hearth' or 'fireplace'—the place in the home where the fire was kept. Over time, its meaning shifted from the place to the fire itself.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'fuego' and 'incendio'?
'Fuego' is the general word for fire, big or small. An 'incendio' is specifically a large, destructive, and out-of-control fire, like a forest fire or a house fire that requires firefighters.
How do I say something is 'on fire'?
You can say it 'está en llamas' (is in flames) or that 'se está quemando' (it is burning). If you're talking about a large fire, you would say 'hay un incendio'.
Is there a verb form of 'fuego'?
No, 'fuego' is only a noun and an interjection. There isn't a verb that comes directly from it. To express the idea of setting fire, you would use phrases like 'prender fuego' or 'incendiar'.