mike
mai-ke
📝 In Action
Pásame el mike, por favor, que no se oye nada.
B1Pass me the mic, please, you can't hear anything.
El cantante se acercó al mike y empezó la canción.
B1The singer approached the mike and started the song.
Habla más cerca del mike para que te escuchen.
B2Speak closer to the mic so they can hear you.
💡 Grammar Points
Loanwords and Gender
Words borrowed from other languages, like 'mike' from English, are usually treated as masculine in Spanish. That's why you'll always hear 'el mike' or 'un mike'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Formal vs. Informal
Mistake: "Using 'mike' in a formal essay or a professional speech."
Correction: In formal situations, always use the full Spanish word 'micrófono'. Think of 'mike' as slang or jargon, perfect for casual chats but not for professional writing.
⭐ Usage Tips
When to Use 'Mike'
Use 'mike' just like you'd use 'mic' in English. It's a quick, informal shortcut used by people familiar with audio equipment, like musicians, podcasters, or sound engineers.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: mike
Question 1 of 1
In which situation would you be most likely to hear someone say 'el mike' instead of 'el micrófono'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'mike' a real Spanish word?
Yes and no. It's not a native Spanish word, but it's a very common 'anglicismo' (a word borrowed from English) that is widely understood, especially in contexts like music, radio, and podcasting. The 'correct' or formal Spanish word is 'micrófono'.
How do I make 'mike' plural?
Since it's an English loanword that ends in a vowel sound, you just add '-s'. For example, 'Necesitamos dos mikes para las guitarras' (We need two mics for the guitars).