lance
/lan-se/
incident
In Spanish, lance can refer to an incident, meaning a specific event or situation.
lance(noun)
incident
?a specific event or situation
,encounter
?a meeting or confrontation
affair
?romantic or private incident
,tight spot
?difficult situation (often used in the phrase 'estar en un lance')
📝 In Action
Tuvimos un lance muy tenso con la policía en la frontera.
B2We had a very tense incident with the police at the border.
El joven tuvo un lance amoroso con la hija del jefe.
C1The young man had a romantic affair with the boss's daughter.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun
Even though 'lanza' (spear) is feminine, 'lance' is always masculine ('el lance'). Remember the 'E' ending doesn't always indicate gender.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use for Drama
Use 'lance' when describing a moment that is sudden, dramatic, or involves emotional risk, rather than a boring or routine event.
The word lance can mean a throw, referring specifically to the act of throwing something.
lance(noun)
throw
?the act of throwing something
,cast
?fishing or net casting
shot
?a quick attempt in sports
📝 In Action
El pescador hizo un lance perfecto y su red cayó sobre el banco de peces.
B2The fisherman made a perfect cast and his net fell over the school of fish.
Necesitas más fuerza en el lance para llegar a la otra orilla.
B1You need more strength in the throw to reach the other shore.
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on Fishing/Hunting
This meaning is most common in specialized activities like fishing (casting a line) or hunting (throwing a net or spear).
Lance is also the Spanish word for the weapon known as a lance, traditionally used by knights.
📝 In Action
El caballero preparó su lance para el duelo.
C1The knight prepared his lance for the duel.
⭐ Usage Tips
Historical Context
While related to the word for 'spear' (lanza), 'lance' specifically refers to the long, heavy weapon used by mounted knights.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: lance
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'lance' to mean a sudden, intense event?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'lance' related to 'lanza' (spear)?
Yes, they are closely related. 'Lanza' is the physical object (the spear), which is feminine. 'Lance' is the masculine noun that originally meant the action of throwing that spear, but now usually means a specific event or encounter.
How do I know if 'lance' means 'throw' or 'incident'?
Check the surrounding words. If it’s used with fishing, hunting, or sports terms, it means 'throw' or 'cast.' If it’s used with words like 'amoroso' (romantic), 'difícil' (difficult), or 'tenso' (tense), it means 'incident' or 'encounter.'