Inklingo
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isla

/EES-lah/

island

A small, lush green piece of land floating in a vast blue ocean under a bright, sunny sky.

An isla is a piece of land completely surrounded by water.

isla(noun)

fA1

island

?

A piece of land surrounded by water

Also:

isle

?

Poetic or literary term for island

📝 In Action

La isla tiene playas de arena blanca y palmeras.

A1

The island has white sandy beaches and palm trees.

Viajamos en ferry a una isla deshabitada para acampar.

A2

We traveled by ferry to an uninhabited island to camp.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • islote (small island, islet)

Antonyms

  • continente (continent, mainland)

Common Collocations

  • isla tropical – tropical island
  • isla desierta – desert island

💡 Grammar Points

Article Usage

Even though 'isla' starts with the vowel 'i', it uses the feminine article 'la' (la isla). Spanish only changes the article to 'el' before singular feminine nouns if they start with a stressed 'a' sound (like el agua).

⭐ Usage Tips

Using the preposition 'on'

To say that something is 'on an island,' you usually use the preposition en: 'Estamos en la isla' (We are on the island).

A modern, rectangular wooden kitchen counter standing alone in the center of a clean, empty room.

This standalone kitchen counter is also called an isla.

isla(noun)

fB1

island (kitchen/store counter)

?

A standalone counter or display unit

Also:

refuge island

?

A safety zone for pedestrians in the middle of a street

,

aisle display

?

A freestanding display in a supermarket

📝 In Action

Pusieron una gran isla de mármol en el centro de la cocina.

B1

They put a large marble island in the center of the kitchen.

Cruza la calle y espera en la isla central.

B2

Cross the street and wait on the central island (pedestrian refuge).

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • mostrador (counter)

Common Collocations

  • isla de cocina – kitchen island
  • isla de seguridad – safety island (for pedestrians)

💡 Grammar Points

Figurative Use

This meaning uses 'isla' to describe anything that is separate, central, and surrounded by space, just like a geographical island.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: isla

Question 1 of 2

¿Cuál es la traducción más común de la palabra 'isla'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

isleño/a(islander) - noun/adjective
península(peninsula (almost island)) - noun
insular(insular, relating to islands) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Since 'agua' uses 'el' (el agua), shouldn't 'isla' also use 'el'?

That's a great question! 'Isla' is feminine, and it uses the standard feminine article 'la' (la isla). The switch to 'el' only happens for singular feminine nouns that begin with a *stressed* 'a' sound (like *agua*). Since the stress in 'isla' is on the 'i' (EES-lah), the rule doesn't apply.

¿Cómo se dice 'islander' en español?

The word for someone who lives on an island is 'isleño' (for a male) or 'isleña' (for a female).