libro
/LEE-broh/
book
The most common meaning of libro is a written or printed work, or a general book.
📝 In Action
Estoy leyendo un libro muy interesante.
A1I'm reading a very interesting book.
¿Puedes pasarme ese libro de la estantería?
A2Can you pass me that book from the bookshelf?
El autor publicó su primer libro el año pasado.
B1The author published his first book last year.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender of Nouns
Like most Spanish nouns ending in '-o', 'libro' is masculine. This means you always use 'el' (the) and 'un' (a/an) with it. For example, 'el libro' (the book) or 'un libro' (a book).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'la' instead of 'el'
Mistake: "La libro es interesante."
Correction: El libro es interesante. Remember, the ending '-o' is a big clue that the word is probably masculine, so it needs 'el'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Making it Plural
To talk about more than one book, just add an 's' to the end: 'libros'. The word for 'the' also changes to 'los'. For example, 'Me gustan los libros de ciencia ficción' (I like science fiction books).
Less commonly, libro can refer to a major division of a long work or a financial ledger (account book).
libro(Noun)
book
?a major division of a larger work, e.g., of the Bible
part
?a section of a long novel or code
,ledger
?financial records
📝 In Action
El primer libro de la Biblia es el Génesis.
B1The first book of the Bible is Genesis.
La novela está dividida en tres libros.
B2The novel is divided into three books.
El contable revisó el libro de cuentas.
B2The accountant checked the account book (ledger).
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
You'll know 'libro' means a section when it's part of a famous text (like the Bible) or followed by a number or title, like 'Libro II' (Book II) or 'el libro del Éxodo' (the book of Exodus).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: libro
Question 1 of 1
If you are in a 'librería', what are you most likely to buy?
📚 More Resources
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.