futuro
/foo-TOO-roh/
future
The path ahead symbolizes the unknown and bright possibilities of el futuro (the future).
futuro(Noun)
future
?The time that is yet to come
prospects
?Regarding a person's career or life path
📝 In Action
Nadie sabe qué pasará en el futuro.
A2Nobody knows what will happen in the future.
Es una carrera con mucho futuro.
B1It's a career with a lot of future (prospects).
En el futuro, me gustaría viajar por el mundo.
B1In the future, I would like to travel the world.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Masculine
Even though 'the future' is an abstract idea, in Spanish it's a masculine noun. Always say 'el futuro' or 'un futuro'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
'futuro' vs. 'porvenir'
Mistake: "Using 'futuro' and 'porvenir' exactly the same way."
Correction: 'Futuro' is the general word for all future time. 'Porvenir' is more poetic and often refers to a person's destiny or professional prospects. For everyday use, 'futuro' is almost always the right choice.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking About Plans
The phrase 'en el futuro' (in the future) is perfect for talking about your long-term hopes and dreams. For more immediate plans, you might use 'más tarde' (later) or 'mañana' (tomorrow).
The child is a futura astronaut, emphasizing that she is a prospective person in that role.
futuro(Adjective)
future
?Describing something that will be, e.g., 'future president'
prospective
?e.g., 'prospective client'
,-to-be
?e.g., 'bride-to-be'
📝 In Action
Te presento a mi futura esposa.
B1I'd like you to meet my future wife.
Los futuros cambios en la empresa nos preocupan.
B2The future changes in the company worry us.
La futura generación tendrá nuevos desafíos.
B2The future generation will have new challenges.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Placement
As an adjective, 'futuro' almost always goes before the person or thing it describes. For example, say 'mi futura casa' (my future house), not 'mi casa futura'.
Matches Gender and Number
Like most adjectives, 'futuro' changes to match the noun: 'el futuro rey' (the future king), 'la futura reina' (the future queen), 'los futuros problemas' (the future problems).
In grammar class, el futuro refers to the future tense, describing actions that will happen.
📝 In Action
Hoy en clase vamos a estudiar el futuro.
A2Today in class we are going to study the future tense.
El verbo 'hablar' en futuro es 'hablaré'.
B1The verb 'hablar' in the future tense is 'hablaré'.
⭐ Usage Tips
In the Classroom
This is how teachers and textbooks refer to the verb tense used for talking about what 'will' happen. You might hear 'conjuga el verbo en futuro' (conjugate the verb in the future tense).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: futuro
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'futuro' to describe something (as an adjective)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between using the future tense (e.g., 'comeré') and using 'ir a' (e.g., 'voy a comer')?
Great question! Both talk about the future, but 'ir a' ('voy a comer') is much more common in everyday conversation for plans and intentions, like saying 'I'm going to eat'. The simple future tense ('comeré') is often used for more distant or less certain events, predictions ('lloverá mañana' - it will rain tomorrow), or for making promises ('te llamaré' - I will call you).
Can 'futuro' be feminine, like 'futura'?
Yes, but only when it's an adjective describing a feminine noun. For example, you would say 'la futura presidenta' (the future female president). When you're talking about 'the future' as a concept of time, it is always masculine: 'el futuro'.