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modo

moh-dohˈmo.ðo

way, manner

Also: method, fashion
NounmA2
A person standing at a junction where three different colored paths diverge, all leading toward the same small, brightly colored house in the distance, illustrating different 'ways' or 'manners' of achieving a goal.

📝 In Action

Me gusta tu modo de ser.

A2

I like your way of being.

Hazlo de este modo y será más fácil.

A2

Do it this way and it will be easier.

De todos modos, gracias por tu ayuda.

B1

Anyway, thanks for your help.

A mi modo de ver, la película fue excelente.

B2

In my view (literally: 'in my way of seeing'), the movie was excellent.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • de este modo – in this way, thus
  • de todos modos – anyway, in any case
  • de ningún modo – no way, by no means
  • a mi modo – my way

Idioms & Expressions

  • a modo de – as a kind of, by way of

mode, setting

NounmB1
A simple, stylized rectangular device outline, representing a phone, with a small, bright blue airplane icon floating directly above it, indicating 'airplane mode' is active.

📝 In Action

Por favor, pon el teléfono en modo avión durante el despegue.

B1

Please, put your phone in airplane mode during takeoff.

Mi cámara tiene un modo nocturno para sacar fotos en la oscuridad.

B1

My camera has a night mode for taking pictures in the dark.

El juego tiene un modo fácil y un modo difícil.

B2

The game has an easy mode and a hard mode.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ajuste (setting)
  • configuración (configuration)

Common Collocations

  • modo avión – airplane mode
  • modo de espera – standby mode
  • modo oscuro – dark mode
  • modo seguro – safe mode

mood

NounmB2formal
Three small figures representing grammatical moods: one pointing definitively at an apple (fact), one pointing sternly downward (command), and one gazing upward with hopeful, clasped hands (wish/doubt).

📝 In Action

En español, el modo subjuntivo se usa mucho.

B2

In Spanish, the subjunctive mood is used a lot.

La profesora explicó los tres modos del verbo: indicativo, subjuntivo e imperativo.

C1

The teacher explained the three moods of the verb: indicative, subjunctive, and imperative.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • modo indicativo – indicative mood
  • modo subjuntivo – subjunctive mood
  • modo imperativo – imperative mood

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "modo" in Spanish:

fashion→manner→method→mode→mood→setting→way→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: modo

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'modo' to talk about a setting on a device?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'modus', which meant 'measure, boundary, manner, way'. It carried the sense of a standard or a particular way of doing things.

First recorded: Around the 10th century.

Cognates (Related words)

English: modeFrench: modeItalian: modo

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'modo', 'manera', and 'forma'?

Great question! They all mean 'way' or 'manner' and are often interchangeable. 'Manera' and 'forma' are very common in everyday speech. 'Modo' can sometimes feel a bit more specific or formal. For example, 'Me gusta la manera en que sonríes' (I like the way you smile) is very natural. 'Hazlo de este modo' (Do it this way) is also perfect, perhaps giving a more precise instruction. You can't really go wrong, but listening to native speakers will give you a better feel for the subtle differences.

How do I say I'm in a good/bad mood?

Be careful here! You don't use 'modo' for this. Instead, you use the expressions 'estar de buen humor' (to be in a good mood) or 'estar de mal humor' (to be in a bad mood). For example: 'Hoy estoy de muy buen humor'.