misterio
/mis-TEH-ryoh/
mystery
When something is unknown or puzzling, it is a misterio.
misterio(Noun)
mystery
?something unknown or puzzling
enigma
?a profound puzzle
,secret
?when referring to something hidden
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Rule
Even though many Spanish nouns ending in -a are feminine, 'misterio' ends in -o and is masculine. Always use the masculine article: 'el misterio', 'un misterio'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'misterio' and 'secreto'
Mistake: "Usar 'misterio' cuando se refiere a información personal oculta."
Correction: 'Misterio' usually refers to a puzzle or a general unknown truth (like the universe). Use 'secreto' for personal, hidden information (e.g., 'Tengo un secreto').
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing Total Lack of Understanding
You can emphasize how confusing something is by saying 'un completo misterio' or 'un gran misterio'.
A profound religious truth that cannot be fully explained is also called a misterio.
misterio(Noun)
mystery
?a religious truth that cannot be fully explained
mystery play
?a medieval religious drama
📝 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.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: misterio
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'misterio' in its most common, everyday sense?
📚 More Resources
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'.