milagro
“milagro” means “miracle” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
miracle
Also: wonder
📝 In Action
Dicen que el médico hizo un milagro con la operación.
A2They say the doctor performed a miracle with the surgery.
La aparición de agua en el desierto fue un milagro para los viajeros.
B1The appearance of water in the desert was a miracle for the travelers.
stroke of luck
Also: a wonder
📝 In Action
Llegó al aeropuerto de milagro, justo antes de que cerraran la puerta.
B1He arrived at the airport by a miracle (just barely), right before they closed the gate.
¡Qué milagro verte por aquí! Hace años que no coincidíamos.
B2What a miracle to see you here! We haven't run into each other for years.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: milagro
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'milagro' in its figurative sense (meaning 'by luck' or 'barely')?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
It comes directly from the Latin word *miraculum*, which meant 'a wonderful thing' or 'an object of admiration' (something that causes wonder).
First recorded: Around the 13th century in Spanish.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'milagro' only used in religious contexts?
No. While it certainly refers to supernatural events, it is very commonly used in everyday speech to describe any amazing, unexpected, or incredibly lucky event, like 'I found my keys! It's a miracle!'
What is the difference between 'milagro' and 'maravilla'?
'Milagro' (miracle) usually implies an event that defies natural law or logic. 'Maravilla' (wonder/marvel) describes something beautiful or impressive, like the 'Siete maravillas del mundo' (Seven Wonders of the World).