imán
“imán” means “magnet” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
magnet
Also: fridge magnet
📝 In Action
Tengo un imán de Madrid en mi nevera.
A1I have a Madrid magnet on my fridge.
Los imanes atraen algunos metales.
A2Magnets attract some metals.
Ten cuidado, ese imán es muy potente.
B1Be careful, that magnet is very powerful.
magnet
Also: draw
📝 In Action
Esta ciudad es un imán para los artistas.
B2This city is a magnet for artists.
Su carisma actúa como un imán.
B2His charisma acts like a magnet.
El centro comercial es un imán de turistas.
C1The shopping mall is a tourist magnet.
imam
📝 In Action
El imán dirigió la oración el viernes.
B2The imam led the prayer on Friday.
Hablamos con el imán de la mezquita.
B2We spoke with the mosque's imam.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: imán
Question 1 of 3
What happens to the accent mark when 'imán' becomes plural ('imanes')?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word for 'magnet' comes from the Latin 'magnes', named after a region in Greece where magnetic stones were found. The word for 'religious leader' comes from the Arabic 'imām', meaning 'leader' or 'model'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'imán' ever change to 'imana' for females?
No. When referring to a magnet, it is always masculine. When referring to a religious leader, it is almost exclusively masculine as the role is traditionally held by men.
How do I know if someone means 'magnet' or 'imam'?
Context is your best friend. If you are talking about science or the fridge, it's a magnet. If you're talking about religion or Islam, it's an imam.
Is 'magneto' used in Spanish?
Yes, but 'imán' is much more common for the physical object. 'Magneto' is often reserved for technical contexts or comic book characters!