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micro

MEE-kroh/ˈmikɾo/

“micro” means “microphone” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

microphone, mic

NounmA2
A classic silver microphone standing on a simple black base.

📝 In Action

Pásame el micro, por favor.

A1

Pass me the mic, please.

El micro no funciona bien durante las videollamadas.

A2

The microphone doesn't work well during video calls.

Asegúrate de apagar el micro cuando no estés hablando.

B1

Make sure to turn off the mic when you aren't speaking.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • micrófono (microphone)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • abrir el micro – to turn on the mic
  • micro inalámbrico – wireless microphone
  • cerrar el micro – to mute the mic

Idioms & Expressions

  • quedarse el micro abierto – to leave the mic on by accident (often leading to embarrassment)

bus, minibus

Also: shuttle
NounmA1
ChileArgentinaPeru
A bright yellow public transportation bus parked on a simple street.

📝 In Action

¿A qué hora pasa el micro?

A1

What time does the bus come?

En Chile, la micro suele ser de color rojo.

A2

In Chile, the bus is usually red.

Viajamos en micro por todo el país porque es más barato.

B1

We traveled by bus across the whole country because it is cheaper.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • autobús (bus)
  • microbús (minibus)
  • colectivo (bus (Argentina))
  • guagua (bus (Caribbean))

Common Collocations

  • perder el micro – to miss the bus
  • tomar el micro – to take the bus
  • bajada del micro – getting off the bus

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "micro" in Spanish:

bus→mic→microphone→minibus→shuttle→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: micro

Question 1 of 3

If you are in Chile and want to take the bus, what should you say?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
micrófono(microphone) — Noun
microbús(minibus) — Noun
microondas(microwave) — Noun
microscopio(microscope) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Derived from the Greek 'mikros', meaning 'small'. In Spanish, it acts as a prefix but has evolved into a standalone noun by shortening longer words like 'micrófono' and 'microbús'.

First recorded: Early 20th century (as a shortening)

Cognates (Related words)

English: microFrench: micro

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'micro' slang?

Not exactly. It is an informal shortening (apocope), similar to saying 'mic' or 'auto' in English. It is widely accepted in most social situations.

Can I use 'micro' for a microwave?

While people will understand you, it is much more common to use the full word 'microondas' or just 'el horno'.

Does 'micro' always mean something small?

The root means small, but a 'micro' (bus) can actually be quite large! It's just a name that stuck.