libra
“libra” means “pound” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
pound
Also: half-kilo
📝 In Action
Quisiera una libra de tomates, por favor.
A1I would like a pound of tomatoes, please.
El bebé pesó ocho libras al nacer.
A2The baby weighed eight pounds at birth.
pound
Also: pound sterling
📝 In Action
El hotel cuesta cien libras por noche.
A2The hotel costs one hundred pounds per night.
Cambié mis euros a libras esterlinas.
B1I exchanged my euros for pounds sterling.
Libra
📝 In Action
Mi hermana es Libra y es muy tranquila.
B1My sister is a Libra and she is very calm.
Los Libra buscan siempre el equilibrio.
B2Libras always look for balance.
frees, saves
Also: fights
📝 In Action
Él se libra de la multa por un error del policía.
B2He gets out of the fine because of a police error.
El ejército libra una batalla difícil.
B2The army fights a difficult battle.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: libra
Question 1 of 2
If you are at a market in Mexico and ask for 'una libra de manzanas', what are you likely to get?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'libra', meaning a balance or a set of scales. This is why the same word is used for weight, money (originally a pound of silver), and the zodiac sign of the scales.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the abbreviation for pound 'lb' in English?
It comes from the Latin word 'libra', the same Spanish word you are learning now!
Can 'libra' mean 'book'?
No! 'Book' is 'libro' (masculine). 'Libra' (feminine) is for weight, money, or the zodiac sign.