gótico
“gótico” means “Gothic” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
Gothic
Also: gloomy or eerie
📝 In Action
La catedral tiene una arquitectura gótica impresionante.
B1The cathedral has impressive Gothic architecture.
Me encanta leer novelas góticas en el invierno.
B2I love reading Gothic novels in the winter.
El estilo gótico se caracteriza por sus arcos puntiagudos.
C1The Gothic style is characterized by its pointed arches.
Goth
📝 In Action
Había muchos góticos en el festival de música.
B2There were many Goths at the music festival.
Él es un gótico y siempre viste de negro.
A2He is a Goth and always wears black.
El gótico como subculture nació en los años ochenta.
C1Goth as a subculture was born in the eighties.
Gothic
📝 In Action
Las tribus góticas se desplazaron por Europa.
C1The Gothic tribes moved across Europe.
El alfabeto gótico fue creado por el obispo Ulfilas.
C2The Gothic alphabet was created by Bishop Ulfilas.
Estudiamos las invasiones góticas en clase de historia.
B2We studied the Gothic invasions in history class.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: gótico
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the correct way to say 'Gothic cathedral'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'Gothicus,' which referred to the Goths, a Germanic people. During the Renaissance, Italian writers used it to describe medieval architecture they found 'barbaric' or 'uncivilized.'
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'gótico' always refer to something scary?
No. In architecture, it refers to a style of building that is actually very tall and full of light. In literature, however, it does often refer to dark, spooky themes.
How do you say 'Goth' for a group of girls?
You would use the feminine plural: 'las góticas'.
Is 'letra gótica' a common phrase?
Yes, it refers to the ornate, thick blackletter calligraphy used in medieval manuscripts and some modern logos.