nave
/NAH-beh/
ship
The word nave often refers to a large vessel, such as a futuristic spaceship (nave espacial) or a sea-faring ship.
nave(Noun)
ship
?a large boat for transporting people or goods
,spaceship
?a vehicle for traveling in space
vessel
?formal term for a ship or large boat
,craft
?as in spacecraft
📝 In Action
La nave espacial despegó hacia Marte.
B1The spaceship took off towards Mars.
El pirata comandaba una nave muy rápida.
B1The pirate commanded a very fast ship.
Vimos una enorme nave de carga en el puerto.
A2We saw a huge cargo ship in the port.
💡 Grammar Points
It's a Feminine Noun
Even though it doesn't end in '-a', 'nave' is a feminine word. So you'll always use 'la nave' or 'una nave'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Nave' vs. 'Barco'
Mistake: "Using 'nave' for a small fishing boat."
Correction: Use 'barco' or 'bote' for smaller boats. 'Nave' sounds big, like a cargo ship, a cruise ship, or a spaceship.
⭐ Usage Tips
Sci-Fi Staple
If you're talking about science fiction, 'nave' is the go-to word for any kind of spaceship, from a small fighter to a giant star destroyer.
Nave can also mean a large industrial building, like a warehouse (nave industrial) used for storing merchandise.
nave(Noun)
warehouse
?a large building for storing goods
,industrial unit
?a space in an industrial park
workshop
?a large room or building where things are made or repaired
,hangar
?especially for aircraft, but can be used more broadly
📝 In Action
Alquilamos una nave industrial para guardar la mercancía.
B2We rented an industrial warehouse to store the merchandise.
La empresa tiene tres naves en el polígono.
B2The company has three units in the industrial park.
El taller de coches está en una nave muy grande.
B1The car repair shop is in a very large building.
💡 Grammar Points
Still Feminine!
Just like the ship, this type of 'nave' is also feminine. Always say 'la nave industrial', never 'el nave'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Context is Key
Mistake: "'La nave está en el puerto.' (This could mean a ship or a warehouse)."
Correction: For clarity, add more info: 'La nave de carga está en el puerto' (The cargo ship is in the port) or 'Nuestra nave está cerca del puerto' (Our warehouse is near the port).
⭐ Usage Tips
Look for 'Industrial'
You'll often see this word paired with 'industrial' ('nave industrial') to make it crystal clear you're talking about a building, not a ship.
In architecture, nave refers to the central part of a church or cathedral, characterized by its high, arched ceiling.
📝 In Action
La nave central de la catedral es impresionante por su altura.
C1The central nave of the cathedral is impressive because of its height.
Caminaron por la nave lateral hasta llegar al altar.
C1They walked along the side nave until they reached the altar.
⭐ Usage Tips
From Ships to Churches
This might seem like a strange meaning, but it comes from the idea that the vaulted ceiling of a church looks like the inside of an upside-down ship's hull. Both words come from the Latin 'navis' (ship).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: nave
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'nave' to mean a type of building?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
So 'nave' can be a spaceship, a boat, AND a building? How do I know which one is meant?
Yes, it's a versatile word! Context is your best friend. Look for clues like 'espacial' (space), 'de carga' (cargo) for ships, or 'industrial' for buildings. If someone just says 'la nave', you'll have to figure it out from the rest of the conversation.
Is 'nave' always feminine?
Yes, always! No matter which meaning you're using—ship, spaceship, warehouse, or church nave—it's always 'la nave' or 'una nave'. It's an important rule to remember for this word.