Inklingo
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iniciales

/ee-nee-syah-less/

initials

A wooden block carved with the letter A and another with the letter B, representing the first letters of a name.

The letters on these blocks represent the 'iniciales' or the first letters of a name.

iniciales(noun)

fA2

initials

?

the first letters of a person's name

Also:

first letters

?

the beginning letters of words in a title or acronym

📝 In Action

Por favor, escribe tus iniciales en cada página del contrato.

A2

Please, write your initials on every page of the contract.

Las iniciales de su nombre están bordadas en la camisa.

B1

The initials of his name are embroidered on the shirt.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • siglas (acronym/initials)

Common Collocations

  • poner las iniciales – to initial (something)
  • iniciales del nombre – initials of the name

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

Even though it ends in '-es', this noun is always feminine because it comes from 'la inicial'. Use 'las iniciales'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Signing Documents

In Spanish-speaking countries, you are often asked to 'inicialar' or 'poner las iniciales' on legal documents to show you have read every page.

A small green sprout emerging from a seed in the dark soil, representing the beginning of growth.

A sprout marks the 'inicial' stage of a plant's life, representing the very beginning.

iniciales(adjective)

m or fB1

initial

?

describing things at the beginning

,

starting

?

describing early phases

Also:

opening

?

as in the opening moments of an event

📝 In Action

Las fases iniciales del proyecto son las más difíciles.

B1

The initial phases of the project are the most difficult.

Tuvimos algunos problemas iniciales, pero ahora todo va bien.

B1

We had some starting problems, but now everything is going well.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • primeras (first)
  • incipientes (beginning/emerging)

Antonyms

  • finales (final/ending)
  • últimas (last)

Common Collocations

  • etapas iniciales – initial stages
  • costos iniciales – initial costs

💡 Grammar Points

Plural Matching

Since this describes a plural noun, 'inicial' adds '-es' to become 'iniciales'. It stays the same for both masculine and feminine nouns.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Singular vs Plural

Mistake: "La fases inicial."

Correction: Las fases iniciales.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: iniciales

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'iniciales' as a noun meaning 'letters of a name'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

iniciar(to start) - verb
inicio(start/beginning) - noun
inicialmente(initially) - adverb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'iniciales' masculine or feminine?

When used as a noun meaning 'initials' (the letters), it is feminine: 'las iniciales'. When used as an adjective, it matches the noun it describes (e.g., 'los pasos iniciales' or 'las fases iniciales').

Do I use 'iniciales' for acronyms like FBI?

Yes, though the word 'siglas' is more specific for organization names, 'iniciales' is often used interchangeably in casual conversation.