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fuente

FWEHN-tehˈfwen̪.te

fountain, spring

Also: wellspring
NounfA1
A tiered stone fountain structure in a sunny public square, with clear water streaming and splashing into the lower basin.

📝 In Action

Hay una fuente muy bonita en el centro de la plaza.

A1

There is a very beautiful fountain in the center of the square.

El pueblo obtiene agua de una fuente natural en la montaña.

A2

The town gets water from a natural spring in the mountain.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • manantial (spring (natural))
  • pila (small font/basin)

Common Collocations

  • beber de la fuente – to drink from the fountain/spring

source

Also: origin, data set
NounfB1
A small, clear spring of water bubbling up from mossy rocks at the very beginning of a stream in a lush, green forest.

📝 In Action

Necesitas citar la fuente de esta información.

B1

You need to cite the source of this information.

La venta de libros es su principal fuente de ingresos.

B2

Book sales are their main source of income.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • fuente confiable – reliable source
  • fuente de inspiración – source of inspiration

Idioms & Expressions

  • de buena fuente – from a reliable source/authority

serving dish, platter

Also: bowl
NounfA2
A large, oval white ceramic serving dish (platter) piled high with colorful, steaming roasted vegetables placed on a wooden table.

📝 In Action

Sirve el pollo en la fuente grande, por favor.

A2

Serve the chicken on the large serving dish, please.

La fuente de ensalada está casi vacía.

A2

The salad bowl/platter is almost empty.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • una fuente de cristal – a glass serving dish

font

Also: typeface
NounfB2technical
A graphic design tool icon showing three distinct abstract shapes side-by-side: one blocky, one thin, and one curved, symbolizing the selection of different visual styles or typefaces.

📝 In Action

Tienes que cambiar la fuente a Arial para este documento.

B2

You have to change the font to Arial for this document.

Elegir la fuente correcta afecta la legibilidad del texto.

C1

Choosing the correct typeface affects the readability of the text.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tipografía (typography)

Common Collocations

  • tamaño de fuente – font size
  • fuente negrita – bold font

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: fuente

Question 1 of 2

Which English translation is NOT appropriate for 'fuente'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
fundación(foundation (establishment)) — Noun
fundamento(basis/foundation (principle)) — Noun
manantial(natural spring) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes directly from the Latin word *fons* (plural *fontes*), meaning 'spring' or 'source of water.' This core idea of 'source' extended naturally over time to mean the source of information, and even the vessel (dish) or type set (font) that contains or presents something.

First recorded: Pre-10th century in early Romance languages.

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: fontePortuguese: fonte

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if 'fuente' means 'fountain' or 'source'?

Context is your best clue! If you are talking about parks, plazas, or nature, it means 'fountain' or 'spring' (physical water). If you are talking about income, information, or inspiration, it means 'source' (abstract origin).

Is 'fuente' ever masculine?

No. Despite ending in -e, 'fuente' is always feminine. You must say 'la fuente' and 'una fuente'.