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A brightly colored illustration of a small child looking up at a large, glowing, floating star in the night sky, their face expressing deep wonder and astonishment.

maravilla

mah-rah-VEE-yah

nounfA2
wonder?Something amazing or astonishing,marvel?A truly excellent thing or achievement
Also:miracle?Figurative use, meaning something fantastic,gem?Describing a small, perfect object or place

📝 In Action

El Gran Cañón es una maravilla natural del mundo.

A2

The Grand Canyon is a natural wonder of the world.

Esta nueva aplicación es una maravilla; me ahorra muchísimo tiempo.

B1

This new app is a marvel; it saves me so much time.

Su capacidad para improvisar en el escenario es una maravilla que pocos pueden igualar.

C1

His ability to improvise on stage is a wonder that few can match.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • milagro (miracle)
  • prodigio (prodigy, marvel)
  • asombro (astonishment, amazement)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ser una maravilla – to be a wonder/marvel
  • las siete maravillas – the seven wonders
  • de maravilla – wonderfully, perfectly (adverbial phrase)

Idioms & Expressions

  • por arte de magia (o maravilla) – as if by magic

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Alert

Even though 'maravilla' ends in '-a', it is a feminine noun, so you must use 'la' or 'una' before it.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Noun and Adverb

Mistake: "La comida era maravilla. (Incorrect)"

Correction: La comida era una maravilla. OR La comida estaba de maravilla. (Correct). You need the article 'una' or the phrase 'de' to make it sound natural.

⭐ Usage Tips

Use 'de maravilla' for Adverbial Sense

To say something went 'wonderfully' or 'perfectly,' use the phrase 'de maravilla.' Example: 'Todo salió de maravilla' (Everything turned out perfectly).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: maravilla

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'maravilla' to describe how well a task was completed?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

maravilloso(wonderful, marvelous) - adjective
maravillosamente(wonderfully) - adverb
maravillarse(to marvel, to be amazed) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'maravilla' only used for big, famous things like monuments?

No, you can use 'maravilla' for anything that you find excellent or impressive, even small things like a dish you ate, a song you heard, or someone's talent. It just means 'something great!'