lineal
“lineal” means “linear” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
linear
Also: straight, sequential
📝 In Action
Esta película no tiene una narrativa lineal; empieza por el final.
B1This movie doesn't have a linear narrative; it starts at the end.
El diseño de la casa es muy lineal y moderno.
B2The design of the house is very linear and modern.
Sigue un pensamiento lineal sin distraerse.
C1He follows a linear thought process without getting distracted.
lineal
Also: running
📝 In Action
Compramos cinco metros lineales de tela.
B2We bought five linear meters of fabric.
El presupuesto se calcula por metro lineal.
C1The budget is calculated per linear meter.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: lineal
Question 1 of 3
If a book's story goes from the beginning to the end without jumps in time, the story is...
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'linealis', which comes from 'linea' (linen thread, line). It originally referred to things made of or resembling string.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'lineal' the same as 'lineal' in English?
Yes, they are cognates! However, in English, 'lineal' is often used for family descent (lineal ancestor), while 'linear' is used for shapes. In Spanish, 'lineal' covers both 'linear' and 'lineal'.
Does it change for feminine nouns?
No. You can say 'una ruta lineal' or 'un camino lineal'. The ending stays the same.
Can I use 'lineal' for a person?
It is rarely used for people's personalities, but it can describe their 'pensamiento' (way of thinking) if they are very logical and direct.