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libro

LEE-brohˈli.βɾo

“libro” means “book” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

book

Also: textbook
NounmA1
A colorful, closed hardcover book lying flat on a simple surface, emphasizing its role as a general written work.

📝 In Action

Estoy leyendo un libro muy interesante.

A1

I'm reading a very interesting book.

¿Puedes pasarme ese libro de la estantería?

A2

Can you pass me that book from the bookshelf?

El autor publicó su primer libro el año pasado.

B1

The author published his first book last year.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • leer un libro – to read a book
  • escribir un libro – to write a book
  • libro de texto – textbook
  • libro electrónico – e-book

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser un libro abierto – To be easy to understand or know; to have no secrets.

book

Also: part, ledger
NounmB1formal
A very thick, official-looking, dark leather-bound ledger or account book, slightly open on a desk, next to an old-fashioned quill.

📝 In Action

El primer libro de la Biblia es el Génesis.

B1

The first book of the Bible is Genesis.

La novela está dividida en tres libros.

B2

The novel is divided into three books.

El contable revisó el libro de cuentas.

B2

The accountant checked the account book (ledger).

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • parte (part)
  • sección (section)
  • capítulo (chapter)

Common Collocations

  • libro primero / libro I – book one / book I
  • libro de reclamaciones – complaints book

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "libro" in Spanish:

book→ledger→part→textbook→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: libro

Question 1 of 1

If you are in a 'librería', what are you most likely to buy?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
librería(bookstore) — Noun
librero(bookseller; bookcase) — Noun
libreto(libretto; script) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'liber', which originally meant 'the inner bark of a tree'. Ancient Romans used this material to write on before paper was widely available, so the word for the material became the word for the object itself.

First recorded: Around the 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: libroFrench: livrePortuguese: livro

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'libro' and 'librería'?

'Libro' is the object you read (a book). 'Librería' is the place where you buy books (a bookstore). They look and sound similar, so it's a common point of confusion for learners!

How do I say 'e-book' or 'audiobook' in Spanish?

An e-book is a 'libro electrónico'. An audiobook is an 'audiolibro'. Both are becoming very common terms.