Inklingo
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nieve

/NYEH-veh/

snow

A simple winter scene showing large, soft white snowflakes gently falling and accumulating on the branches of a dark green pine tree.

In many Spanish-speaking regions, nieve refers to the beautiful precipitation we call snow.

nieve(noun)

fA1

snow

?

weather/precipitation

📝 In Action

Cayó mucha nieve anoche y no pudimos salir.

A1

A lot of snow fell last night and we couldn't go out.

Me encanta el olor a tierra después de que cae la nieve.

A2

I love the smell of the earth after the snow falls.

Mi perro juega feliz en la nieve.

A1

My dog plays happily in the snow.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • muñeco de nieve – snowman
  • caer nieve – to snow (literally: snow to fall)
  • copo de nieve – snowflake

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

Even though 'nieve' ends in 'e', it is always a feminine word. You must use 'la' or 'una' before it: 'la nieve'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Noun and Verb

Mistake: "Está nieve."

Correction: To say 'It is snowing,' use the verb 'nevar' in the third person: 'Está nevando' or 'Nieva'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Talking about the substance

Use 'nieve' (the noun) when you are referring to the substance itself, like 'the snow is deep,' not the action of falling.

A single scoop of bright pink ice cream (or sorbet) resting inside a simple, light brown waffle cone.

In some parts of Latin America, nieve is the common word for a delightful frozen dessert like ice cream.

nieve(noun)

fA2

ice cream

?

frozen dessert (regional)

Also:

sorbet

?

fruit-flavored frozen dessert

📝 In Action

Vamos por una nieve de mango después de la cena.

A2

Let's go for a mango ice cream/sorbet after dinner.

Prefiero la nieve de agua, no la de leche.

B1

I prefer water-based ice cream (sorbet), not milk-based.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • helado (ice cream (general term))

Common Collocations

  • nieve de garrafa – homemade churned ice cream

⭐ Usage Tips

Knowing Your Region

If you are in Mexico, asking for 'una nieve' is perfectly normal. In most other Spanish-speaking countries, use 'helado' to avoid confusion.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: nieve

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'nieve' in its regional meaning of 'frozen dessert'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

nevar(to snow) - verb
nevada(snowfall) - noun
nevado(snowy / snow-capped) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'nieve' and 'helado'?

Both can mean 'ice cream.' In most of the Spanish-speaking world (Spain, Argentina, etc.), 'helado' is the universal term for ice cream. In Mexico, 'nieve' is the most common word for ice cream or sorbet. Sometimes, 'nieve' specifically refers to water-based frozen desserts (like sorbet), while 'helado' refers to creamier, milk-based ones.

How do I say 'It snows' using 'nieve'?

You don't! 'Nieve' is the thing (the snow). To describe the action, use the verb 'nevar' (to snow). You would say 'Nieva' (It snows) or 'Está nevando' (It is snowing).