gimnasia
/heem-NAH-syah/
exercise
Gimnasia refers to physical exercise to stay healthy and fit.
gimnasia(noun)
exercise
?physical activity to stay fit
,gymnastics
?the sport
PE
?short for Physical Education class in schools
,workout
?general physical training
📝 In Action
Hago gimnasia todas las mañanas para mantenerme en forma.
A1I do exercise every morning to stay in shape.
Mi hija practica gimnasia rítmica en el club.
A2My daughter practices rhythmic gymnastics at the club.
Hoy tenemos clase de gimnasia a las diez.
A1Today we have PE class at ten.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
This word is always feminine, so you should always use 'la' or 'una' with it (la gimnasia).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Activity vs. Location
Mistake: "Voy a la gimnasia para levantar pesas."
Correction: Voy al gimnasio para levantar pesas.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking about school
In many Spanish-speaking countries, students simply say 'gimnasia' to refer to their Physical Education (PE) class.
Gimnasia can also mean mental exercise or brain training through challenging tasks.
gimnasia(noun)
mental exercise
?metaphorical use for brain training
brain training
?activities to keep the mind sharp
📝 In Action
Hacer crucigramas es una excelente gimnasia mental.
B2Doing crosswords is excellent mental exercise.
Aprender un nuevo idioma requiere mucha gimnasia mental.
B2Learning a new language requires a lot of mental work.
💡 Grammar Points
Using it Metaphorically
Just like in English, you can use the word for movement to describe training your brain.
⭐ Usage Tips
Pairing with 'mental'
When using this meaning, it is almost always followed by the word 'mental'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: gimnasia
Question 1 of 2
If you want to say 'I am going to the building where people lift weights,' which word should you use?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'gimnasia' only used for professional Olympic sports?
No! While it does mean 'gymnastics,' it is most commonly used by everyday people to mean general exercise or their PE class at school.
How do I distinguish between the sport and just 'working out'?
Usually context tells you, but if someone means the competitive sport, they often add 'rítmica' or 'artística' to be specific.