Inklingo
← Dictionary

hueco

WAY-kohˈw̝e.ko

hole, gap

Also: space, cavity
NounmA2
A small, dark, circular opening in a brown dirt surface.

📝 In Action

Tapa ese hueco en la pared antes de que entre agua.

A2

Cover that hole in the wall before water gets in.

Dejó un gran hueco en su corazón cuando se fue.

B1

He left a big void (or hole) in her heart when he left.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • tapar un hueco – to fill a hole
  • hacer un hueco – to make a hole

hollow

Also: empty
A large, thick wooden log cut vertically, revealing that its interior is completely empty.

📝 In Action

El tronco del árbol estaba completamente hueco.

B1

The tree trunk was completely hollow.

La caja se sentía muy ligera porque estaba hueca.

B1

The box felt very light because it was hollow.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • vacío (empty)
  • cóncavo (concave)

Antonyms

  • sólido (solid)
  • lleno (full)

free moment, slot

Also: opening
NounmB2
A smiling cartoon person sitting peacefully in a brightly colored hammock, reading a book under a sunny sky.

📝 In Action

¿Tienes un hueco para tomar café mañana?

B2

Do you have a free moment/slot to grab coffee tomorrow?

Si encuentro un hueco en mi agenda, te llamo.

B2

If I find an opening in my schedule, I'll call you.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • buscar un hueco – to look for a slot/opening
  • tener un hueco – to have spare time

shallow, empty-headed

Also: superficial
Adjectivem/fC1informal
A very thin, small puddle of clear water barely covering a flat surface, illustrating lack of depth.

📝 In Action

No me gusta su filosofía; me parece muy hueca.

C1

I don't like his philosophy; it seems very shallow (or empty) to me.

Aunque es guapo, es una persona bastante hueca.

C2

Although he is handsome, he is quite a superficial person.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: hueco

Question 1 of 2

Which English translation best fits 'Solo tengo un pequeño hueco entre reuniones'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
ahuecar(to make hollow; to fluff up) — Verb
oquedad(hollowness; cavity) — Noun
ahuecado(hollowed out; puffed up (adjective)) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
secocheco
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Old Spanish word 'oco,' which itself evolved from the Latin word *oculus* (eye). Over time, the meaning shifted from 'eye socket' (a hollow space) to 'hollow' in general, eventually gaining the initial 'h'.

First recorded: 13th century (as 'oco')

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: ocoCatalan: buit

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'hueco' used for all types of holes?

'Hueco' is usually used for larger, less specific holes, gaps, or spaces (like a hole in a wall or a space in a closet). For smaller, precise holes (like a needle hole or a bullet hole), 'agujero' is often more common.

How do I know if 'hueco' means 'hole' or 'free time'?

The context will tell you! If you are talking about walls, trees, or objects, it means 'hole' or 'hollow.' If you are talking about a calendar, a meeting, or a schedule, it means 'free time' or 'slot.'