milagro
/mee-LAH-groh/
miracle
A true miracle, or "milagro," is often depicted as a sudden, supernatural change.
milagro(noun)
miracle
?supernatural event, religious context
wonder
?something amazing or inexplicable
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Check
Even though 'milagro' ends in 'o', remember it is always masculine, so use 'el milagro' or 'un milagro'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing Amazement
You can exclaim '¡Qué milagro!' to express great surprise or amazement at an unexpected event, similar to saying 'What a miracle!'
Finding unexpected success or having a lucky escape is a "milagro," or a stroke of luck.
milagro(noun)
stroke of luck
?lucky escape, unexpected success
a wonder
?an amazing achievement or rare occurrence
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'De Milagro'
The phrase 'de milagro' is used when something happened but it was a very close call or was extremely difficult: 'Ganamos el partido de milagro' (We won the game by the skin of our teeth).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing literal/figurative
Mistake: "Using 'un milagro' when you mean 'a coincidence' ('una casualidad')."
Correction: Use 'milagro' only when the event feels truly astounding or impossible. If it's just a small coincidence, use 'casualidad'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: milagro
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'milagro' in its figurative sense (meaning 'by luck' or 'barely')?
📚 More Resources
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).