intereses
/in-te-RE-ses/
interests
Showing the things we love to do, this image illustrates 'intereses' as hobbies or subjects of concern.
intereses(noun)
interests
?hobbies or subjects of concern
concerns
?things that are important to a group or person
📝 In Action
¿Cuáles son tus intereses fuera del trabajo?
A2What are your interests outside of work?
Tenemos muchos intereses en común, por eso somos buenos amigos.
B1We have many interests in common, that's why we are good friends.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Plural
When talking about hobbies, 'intereses' is always used in the plural, just like in English when you say 'my interests'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Singular for Multiple Hobbies
Mistake: "Mi interés son el deporte y la música."
Correction: Mis intereses son el deporte y la música. (Use the plural noun and plural verb 'son' when listing more than one thing.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking About What Matters
You can use 'intereses' to refer to the goals or concerns of a group, like 'los intereses del partido político' (the interests of the political party).
When 'intereses' refers to money, it means the financial return or cost of borrowing, often called interest.
📝 In Action
El banco cobra intereses muy altos por los préstamos hipotecarios.
B2The bank charges very high interest for mortgage loans.
Ganamos intereses en la cuenta de ahorros cada mes.
B1We earn interest on the savings account every month.
💡 Grammar Points
Financial Plural
In Spanish, the word 'intereses' is almost always plural when referring to money earned or owed, even though in English you might say 'the interest rate' (singular).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Interés' for Money
Mistake: "Pagué mucho interés al banco."
Correction: Pagué muchos intereses al banco. (Use the plural form 'intereses' when discussing the monetary amount.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Verbs for Money
Use verbs like 'cobrar' (to charge) and 'ganar' (to earn) when talking about financial 'intereses'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: intereses
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'intereses' in the financial context?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'intereses' plural when talking about money, even if I only mean one rate?
Spanish treats the total amount of money earned or charged as a collection of payments or costs, so the plural form 'intereses' is almost always used in financial contexts. Think of it as 'interest payments' or 'costs,' which helps justify the plural.
How is 'intereses' different from 'aficiones'?
'Aficiones' strictly means hobbies or pastimes. 'Intereses' is broader; it includes hobbies, but also subjects you are concerned about or goals you are pursuing (like 'intereses políticos' or 'intereses económicos').