mente

men-tayˈmen.te

“mente” means “mind” in Spanish (intellect, thoughts, consciousness).

mind

Also: intention, memory

NounfA2

📝 In Action

Tengo muchas cosas en la mente ahora mismo.

I have a lot of things on my mind right now.

Es importante mantener una mente abierta y flexible.

It's important to keep an open and flexible mind.

Su nombre no me viene a la mente en este momento.

His name doesn't come to mind at this moment.

Ella tiene una de las mentes más brillantes de su generación.

She has one of the most brilliant minds of her generation.

Word Connections

Synonyms

intelecto (intellect)
razón (reason)
pensamiento (thought)

Common Collocations

tener en mente – to have in mind / to keep in mind
venir a la mente – to come to mind
mente abierta – open mind
cambiar de mente – to change one's mind
leer la mente – to read someone's mind

Idioms & Expressions

Se me fue de la mente – It slipped my mind; I forgot.
tener una mente de teflón – To be very forgetful; for things to not 'stick' in your mind.

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Often confused with cabezanear-synonyms

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Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "mente" in Spanish:

intention→memory→mind→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: mente

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence best translates to 'Keep this idea in mind'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

mental(mental) — Adjective

mentalmente(mentally) — Adverb

mentalidad(mentality) — Noun

demente(demented, insane) — Adjective / Noun

🎵 Rhymes▼

gente diente frente caliente

📚 Etymology▼

Comes directly from the Latin word 'mens, mentis', which meant 'mind', 'understanding', or 'reason'. It's a very old word that has kept its core meaning throughout the centuries.

First recorded: Around the 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: mentalItalian: mentePortuguese: menteFrench: mental

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'mente', 'cerebro', and 'cabeza'?

Great question! 'Cabeza' is your physical head. 'Cerebro' is the physical brain inside your head. 'Mente' is the abstract concept of your mind – your thoughts, intellect, and memory. You think *with* your 'cerebro' and 'cabeza', but your thoughts *are in* your 'mente'.

Is 'mental' always a negative word in Spanish?

Not at all! While it can be part of phrases related to mental health ('salud mental'), it's often neutral. For example, 'cálculo mental' means 'mental math', and 'agilidad mental' means 'mental agility'. It just means 'related to the mind'.