A simple, colorful storybook illustration showing an antique paper map unrolled on a wooden surface. The map features stylized green continents, blue oceans, a winding path, and a simple red marker indicating a destination.

mapa

MAH-pah

nounmA1

map?geographical representation,chart?nautical or sky map

Also:plan?figurative 'roadmap' or strategy,diagram?conceptual drawing

📝 In Action

Necesitamos un mapa para encontrar el camino al pueblo.

We need a map to find the way to the town.

El mapa del metro es muy confuso.

The subway map is very confusing.

Presentaron el mapa de ruta para los próximos cinco años de la empresa.

They presented the roadmap (plan) for the company's next five years.

Word Connections

Synonyms

plano (plan/layout)
croquis (sketch)

Common Collocations

mapa del tesoro – treasure map
mapa mental – mind map
mapa interactivo – interactive map

Idioms & Expressions

estar en el mapa – to be successful or well-known

💡 Grammar Points

The Masculine Exception

Even though 'mapa' ends in -a, it is a masculine noun. This is because it comes from Greek. Always use 'el' or 'un' before it: 'el mapa', 'un mapa grande'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Incorrect Gender

Mistake: "Dame la mapa, por favor."

Correction: Dame el mapa, por favor. (Remember that words ending in -ma, like 'problema' and 'tema', are often masculine.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Specifying the Type of Map

You usually specify what the map shows using 'de': 'mapa de carreteras' (road map), 'mapa de estrellas' (star chart).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: mapa

Question 1 of 2

Which article must you use before the word 'mapa'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cartografía(cartography) - noun

cartógrafo(cartographer) - noun

planeta(planet) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'mapa' masculine if it ends in -a?

This is a common exception in Spanish! Many nouns that end in -ma, -pa, or -ta and come from Greek (like 'problema,' 'planeta,' and 'mapa') keep the masculine gender. Just remember to use 'el' or 'un' with them.

Is 'mapa' the same as 'plano'?

They are very similar synonyms. 'Mapa' usually refers to a large geographical area (a country or world). 'Plano' often refers to a smaller area, like the layout of a single building, a floor plan, or a simple sketch of a neighborhood.