Inklingo

navío

na-BEE-oh/naˈβio/

navío means ship in Spanish (a large, formal vessel).

ship

Also: vessel, man-of-war
NounmB2formal
A large wooden three-masted sailing ship with white sails on a calm blue sea.

📝 In Action

El navío de guerra cruzó el Atlántico en busca de nuevas tierras.

B1

The warship crossed the Atlantic in search of new lands.

Vieron un antiguo navío abandonado cerca de la costa.

B2

They saw an old abandoned vessel near the coast.

La flota estaba compuesta por poderosos navíos de línea.

C1

The fleet was composed of powerful ships of the line.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • buque (large ship)
  • embarcación (craft/vessel)
  • barco (boat/ship)

Antonyms

  • patera (small dinghy)
  • bote (small rowboat)

Common Collocations

  • navío de guerrawarship
  • navío mercantemerchant ship
  • navío de líneaship of the line

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "navío" in Spanish:

man-of-war

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: navío

Question 1 of 3

Which word is a more common, everyday alternative to 'navío'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
navegar(to sail)Verb
navegación(navigation)Noun
navegante(navigator/sailor)Noun
nave(craft/ship/vessel)Noun
🎵 Rhymes
ríofríodesafío
📚 Etymology

From the Latin word 'navigium', which refers to a vessel or the act of sailing. It shares the same root as words like 'navy' and 'navigate' in English.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: navioItalian: naviglioFrench: navire

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'navío' the same as 'buque'?

They are very similar! Both refer to large ships. 'Buque' is more commonly used for modern commercial or military ships (like a cargo ship), while 'navío' often has a more poetic or historical feel.

Can I use 'navío' for a cruise ship?

While technically possible, it would sound very strange. For a cruise ship, it's better to use 'crucero' or 'buque de pasajeros'.

Why does 'navío' have an accent mark?

The accent mark on the 'í' breaks what would otherwise be a single syllable ('io') into two distinct sounds ('í-o'), ensuring the emphasis is on the correct part of the word.