misterio
“misterio” means “mystery” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
mystery
Also: enigma, secret
📝 In Action
¿Quién se comió el último trozo de pastel? ¡Es un misterio!
A1Who ate the last piece of cake? It's a mystery!
El detective resolvió el misterio del collar robado en solo dos días.
A2The detective solved the mystery of the stolen necklace in only two days.
Para mí, cómo funciona el internet sigue siendo un completo misterio.
B1For me, how the internet works is still a complete mystery.
mystery
Also: mystery play
📝 In Action
La Santísima Trinidad es el misterio central de la fe católica.
B2The Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Catholic faith.
En la Edad Media, se representaban misterios sobre la vida de los santos.
C1In the Middle Ages, mystery plays about the lives of saints were performed.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: misterio
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'misterio' in its most common, everyday sense?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *mysterium*, which itself was borrowed from the Greek word *mystērion*. Originally, it referred to secret rites or religious ceremonies known only to initiates. Over time, its meaning broadened to include any profound secret or puzzle.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is 'misterio' different from 'secreto'?
'Misterio' usually describes something that is inherently puzzling, complex, or unknown to everyone (like the origin of life). 'Secreto' refers to private information that someone is intentionally hiding from others (like a personal secret).
Can I use 'misterio' as an adjective?
No, 'misterio' is only a noun. If you want to describe something as 'mysterious' (like a mysterious sound), you must use the adjective form, 'misterioso'.