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A colorful storybook illustration showing a small bird holding a twig, standing on a branch next to a partially built nest, demonstrating natural, unlearned behavior.

instintos

een-STEEN-tohs

NounmB1
instincts?natural behavior or urges
Also:gut feelings?intuition,urges?strong natural desires

📝 In Action

Los animales siguen sus instintos para encontrar comida.

A2

Animals follow their instincts to find food.

Tienes que confiar en tus instintos; casi siempre son correctos.

B1

You have to trust your gut feelings; they are almost always correct.

El instinto maternal es muy fuerte en muchas especies.

B2

The maternal instinct is very strong in many species.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • intuición (intuition)
  • corazonadas (gut feelings (literally 'heart-thumps'))

Antonyms

  • razón (reason)
  • lógica (logic)

Common Collocations

  • seguir los instintos – to follow one's instincts
  • instintos básicos – basic instincts

Idioms & Expressions

  • actuar por instinto – To act without thinking, based on a natural reaction.

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun Rule

Even though this word ends in '-os,' remember that 'instintos' is always masculine, so you must use masculine articles and adjectives: 'los instintos' (the instincts), 'mis instintos' (my instincts).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gender Confusion

Mistake: "La instinta"

Correction: The correct singular is 'El instinto' and the plural is 'Los instintos.' This word is masculine.

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal vs. Intuitive Use

In formal contexts (like biology), 'instintos' refers to inherent behaviors. In daily conversation, it often means 'intuition' or 'a feeling' about a decision.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: instintos

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'instintos'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

instinto(instinct (singular)) - noun
instintivo(instinctive) - adjective
instintivamente(instinctively) - adverb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'instintos' the same as 'intuición'?

They are very similar! 'Instintos' usually refers to deep, biological urges (like a survival instinct), while 'intuición' (intuition) is more often used for a sudden, unexplained feeling or hunch about a situation or person.

How do I refer to just one instinct (singular)?

The singular form is 'instinto' (el instinto), meaning 'the instinct' or 'the urge.' Remember it remains masculine.