instinto
/een-STEEN-toh/
instinct
Showing the natural impulse or urge of instinto, like a spider spinning its first web.
📝 In Action
El instinto de supervivencia es lo que nos mantiene vivos.
B1The survival instinct is what keeps us alive.
Las aves migran por instinto cada año.
B1Birds migrate by instinct every year.
Actuó por puro instinto al ver el peligro.
B2He acted purely by instinct upon seeing the danger.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Por' with Instinct
When you want to say someone or something did something 'by instinct,' use the preposition 'por' (e.g., 'por instinto').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender Error
Mistake: "La instinto"
Correction: Instinto is always masculine: 'El instinto'. Even though it ends in 'o', it's important to remember the article 'el'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Understanding the Root
Think of 'instinto' as an internal force that drives action without thinking, like a built-in program.
Sometimes instinto means listening to your intuition or gut feeling.
📝 In Action
Mi instinto me dice que esta inversión es un error.
B2My gut feeling tells me this investment is a mistake.
Ella tiene un buen instinto para los negocios.
C1She has good intuition for business.
⭐ Usage Tips
Following Your Gut
The phrase 'seguir el instinto' (to follow the instinct) is very common when talking about decisions based on feeling, not logic.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: instinto
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'instinto' to describe a basic, unlearned behavior?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Es 'instinto' siempre masculino?
Sí, 'instinto' es un sustantivo masculino. Siempre debes usar el artículo 'el' o un adjetivo masculino con él (e.g., 'el instinto', 'mi instinto').
How do I say 'instinctively' in Spanish?
You use the adverb 'instintivamente.' For example, 'Reaccionó instintivamente' (He reacted instinctively).