📝 In Action
Mi amigo se llama Michael.
A1My friend's name is Michael.
Michael Jordan es un jugador de baloncesto famoso.
A1Michael Jordan is a famous basketball player.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Pronunciation vs. Spanish Spelling
Mistake: "Trying to pronounce it with Spanish letter sounds, like 'mee-cha-el'."
Correction: Since it's an English name, people usually pronounce it the English way: 'MAI-kel'. The Spanish equivalent is 'Miguel'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using the Spanish Equivalent
When talking about a Spanish-speaking person, the name is almost always 'Miguel'. 'Michael' is typically used for people from English-speaking backgrounds.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: michael
Question 1 of 1
If you meet someone from Mexico named after the archangel, what is his name most likely to be?
📚 More Resources
Word Origin
From the Hebrew name Mikha'el, meaning 'Who is like God?'. It is used in Spanish as a loanword from English, but the traditional Spanish form is Miguel.
First recorded: Ancient, but its use in Spanish is a modern influence from English.
Cognates (Related words)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'Michael' a Spanish name?
Not traditionally. It's the English version of a name that is very common in Spanish. The direct Spanish equivalent is 'Miguel'.
How do Spanish speakers pronounce 'Michael'?
They usually try to pronounce it as it sounds in English, roughly 'MAI-kel'. They don't typically pronounce it with Spanish letter sounds (which would sound like 'mee-cha-el').