Inklingo

minas

MEE-nahs/ˈminas/

girls, women

Also: chicks
NounfB1slang
Argentina, Chile, UruguayMexico, Spain
A simple storybook illustration showing two smiling young women standing side-by-side on a sunny day.

📝 In Action

¿Viste a esas minas en el concierto? ¡Qué buena onda!

B1

Did you see those girls at the concert? They were really cool!

Todas las minas de mi clase están estudiando mucho para el examen.

B2

All the women in my class are studying hard for the exam.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • un grupo de minasa group of girls/women

mines

Also: ore deposits, landmines
NounfA2
A colorful storybook illustration of a round, black military landmine partially hidden in the dirt of a field.

📝 In Action

Las minas de carbón son peligrosas para los trabajadores.

A2

Coal mines are dangerous for the workers.

El ejército tuvo que desactivar varias minas terrestres.

B1

The army had to deactivate several landmines.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • yacimientos (deposits)

Common Collocations

  • explotación de minasmine exploitation

you undermine, you erode

Also: you excavate
VerbB2regular ar
A storybook illustration showing a person kneeling and secretly digging away the ground beneath a leaning wooden tower, symbolizing undermining.
infinitiveminar
gerundminando
past Participleminado

📝 In Action

Si no duermes bien, minas tu salud a largo plazo.

B2

If you don't sleep well, you undermine your health in the long term.

minas la confianza del equipo con tus constantes quejas.

C1

You erode the team's trust with your constant complaints.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • socavar (undermine)
  • debilitar (weaken)

Common Collocations

  • minar la moralto undermine morale

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedmina
yomino
minas
ellos/ellas/ustedesminan
nosotrosminamos
vosotrosmináis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedminaba
yominaba
minabas
ellos/ellas/ustedesminaban
nosotrosminábamos
vosotrosminabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedminó
yominé
minaste
ellos/ellas/ustedesminaron
nosotrosminamos
vosotrosminasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedmine
yomine
mines
ellos/ellas/ustedesminen
nosotrosminemos
vosotrosminéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedminara
yominara
minaras
ellos/ellas/ustedesminaran
nosotrosmináramos
vosotrosminarais

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✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: minas

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'minas' in its literal, non-slang meaning?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
mina(mine (noun) / girl (slang))Noun
minar(to mine / to undermine)Verb
minero(miner)Noun
🎵 Rhymes
quinasruinas
📚 Etymology

The word 'mina' (the singular form of 'minas') comes from the Medieval Latin *mina*, referring to a vein of ore, which later evolved to mean the excavation itself. The slang meaning of 'girl' is thought to have developed in the Southern Cone (Argentina/Chile) because a woman was considered a 'valuable find' or 'treasure,' relating to the mining concept.

First recorded: 13th century (literal meaning)

Cognates (Related words)

French: mineEnglish: mine

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'minas' an offensive word for women?

In countries like Argentina and Chile, 'minas' is widely used and generally considered neutral slang, similar to 'girls' or 'chicks' in English, and is not usually offensive. However, like all slang, its appropriateness depends on the context and who is speaking.

How can I tell if 'minas' means 'mines' or 'girls'?

Check the surrounding words. If you see words related to geology, explosives, or military action, it means 'mines' (Definition 2). If you see words related to social activities, adjectives for people, or casual settings, it means 'girls' (Definition 1).