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literatura

lee-teh-rah-TOO-rah/liteɾaˈtuɾa/

literature

Also: written works
NounfB2
A stack of three colorful books resting on a surface next to an antique inkwell and a feather quill, symbolizing written artistry.

📝 In Action

Mi clase favorita es la de literatura moderna.

B2

My favorite class is modern literature.

La literatura rusa del siglo XIX es muy profunda.

C1

19th-century Russian literature is very profound.

Ella quiere estudiar literatura comparada en la universidad.

B2

She wants to study comparative literature at university.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • letras (letters/humanities)
  • escritos (writings)

Common Collocations

  • literatura infantil – children's literature
  • literatura clásica – classical literature
  • premio de literatura – literature prize

documentation

Also: materials
NounfC1formal
A precise, neat stack of three thick, white, official-looking binders, suggesting technical manuals or documentation, with a simple dark pen resting on the top.

📝 In Action

Necesitamos revisar la literatura científica antes de comenzar el experimento.

C1

We need to review the scientific literature before starting the experiment.

La empresa distribuyó nueva literatura sobre sus políticas de seguridad.

C2

The company distributed new literature (documentation) about its safety policies.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • documentación (documentation)
  • información (information)

Common Collocations

  • literatura científica – scientific literature
  • revisión de literatura – literature review

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "literatura" in Spanish:

documentation→literature→materials→written works→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: literatura

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'literatura' to mean 'technical documents' rather than 'artistic writing'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
literario(literary) — Adjective
literato(writer/man of letters) — Noun
letras(humanities) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word *litteratūra*, meaning 'writing' or 'learning.' It originally referred to knowing how to read and write, before evolving to mean the artistic body of written work we know today.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: literatureFrench: littérature

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Frequently Asked Questions

¿Es 'literatura' solo para libros?

No, 'literatura' es un término amplio que incluye poesía, ensayos, obras de teatro y narraciones orales que han sido transcritas. No se limita solo a las novelas o libros largos.

If I want to talk about reading for fun, should I use 'literatura'?

You can! If you say, 'Me gusta leer literatura,' it means 'I like reading (written works).' But if you just want to say 'I like to read,' use the verb 'leer': 'Me gusta leer.'