Inklingo
← Dictionary

musa

MOO-sah/ˈmusa/

“musa” means “muse” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

muse

Also: inspiration
NounfB1
A painter looking thoughtfully at a woman sitting near a window, with a canvas and brush in hand.

📝 In Action

Ella fue la musa de Dalí durante muchos años.

A2

She was Dali's muse for many years.

Cuando el escritor perdió a su musa, dejó de escribir novelas.

B1

When the writer lost his muse, he stopped writing novels.

La ciudad de Venecia ha sido la musa de grandes pintores.

B2

The city of Venice has been the muse of great painters.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • inspiración (inspiration)
  • numen (artistic spark)

Antonyms

  • desgana (lack of interest/enthusiasm)

Common Collocations

  • musa inspiradora – inspiring muse
  • buscar la musa – to search for inspiration
  • la visita de la musa – the moment inspiration strikes

Idioms & Expressions

  • estar a las musas – to be distracted or day-dreaming

Muse

NounfB2formal
A woman in a classical Greek robe holding a lyre and wearing a laurel wreath.

📝 In Action

Clío es la musa de la historia.

B2

Clio is the Muse of history.

Los poetas griegos invocaban a la musa antes de cantar sus versos.

C1

Greek poets would call upon the Muse before singing their verses.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • deidad (deity)

Common Collocations

  • las nueve musas – the nine muses
  • invocar a la musa – to invoke the muse

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "musa" in Spanish:

inspiration→muse→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: musa

Question 1 of 3

If a man is the source of inspiration for a female painter, how would she refer to him?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
música(music) — Noun
musical(musical) — Adjective
músico(musician) — Noun
museo(museum) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Greek word 'mousa', which refers to the goddesses of inspiration. It eventually entered Spanish through the Latin 'musa'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: museFrench: museItalian: musa

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'musa' only used for people?

No, while it often refers to a person, you can call anything that inspires you—like a beautiful sunset or a specific city—your 'musa'.

Why is the word for music so similar to 'musa'?

They share the same root! In Ancient Greece, 'mousike' was the 'art of the Muses,' which included poetry, dance, and song.

Is it common to use 'musa' in everyday conversation?

It's slightly poetic or formal. You'll hear it more often in songs, books, or when people are talking about their creative hobbies.