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libre

LEE-brehˈli.βɾe

free

Also: independent, unrestricted
A small blue bird flying joyfully away from a large, open, wooden cage, symbolizing freedom and being at liberty.

📝 In Action

Nelson Mandela no fue un hombre libre durante 27 años.

A2

Nelson Mandela was not a free man for 27 years.

En este país, la prensa es libre.

B1

In this country, the press is free.

Quiero ser libre para tomar mis propias decisiones.

B1

I want to be free to make my own decisions.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • país libre – free country
  • entrada libre – free entry / unrestricted access
  • ser libre como el viento – to be free as the wind

free

Also: vacant, available
An empty wooden chair pulled up to a small round cafe table in a sunny setting, showing that the seat is available and unoccupied.

📝 In Action

Disculpe, ¿está libre esta silla?

A1

Excuse me, is this chair free?

El taxi tiene la luz verde, así que está libre.

A2

The taxi has its green light on, so it's free (available).

No te puedo ayudar ahora, no estoy libre.

A2

I can't help you now, I'm not free.

Tengo toda la tarde libre para ir de compras.

B1

I have the whole afternoon free to go shopping.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • asiento libre – free seat
  • mesa libre – free table
  • tiempo libre – free time

single

Also: unattached
Adjectivem/fB1informal
A smiling adult figure walking alone on a path through a sunny green field, holding their arms out to their sides in a gesture of relaxed independence.

📝 In Action

Mi amigo rompió con su novia, ahora está libre otra vez.

B1

My friend broke up with his girlfriend, now he's single again.

Soy una mujer libre, no necesito a nadie.

B1

I'm a single/free woman, I don't need anyone.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

🔀 Commonly Confused With

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✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: libre

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'libre' correctly?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes directly from the Latin word 'liber', which meant 'free' in the sense of not being a slave. It's the same root that gives English words like 'liberty', 'liberate', and even 'library' (originally a place of free knowledge).

First recorded: 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Latin: līberFrench: libreItalian: liberoPortuguese: livre

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the biggest difference between 'libre' and 'gratis'?

Think of it this way: 'Libre' is about availability or freedom. A parking spot is 'libre' (available). A country is 'libre' (has freedom). 'Gratis' is about money. A sample at the store is 'gratis' (costs nothing). So, a bathroom can be 'libre' (unoccupied), but it's not 'gratis' if you have to pay to use it!

Does 'libre' change for masculine and feminine words?

Nope, it's one of the easy ones! It stays the same. You say 'el chico libre' (the free boy) and 'la chica libre' (the free girl). It only changes for plural things by adding an 's', like 'los asientos libres' (the free seats).