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nubes

NOO-bes/ˈnuβes/

“nubes” means “clouds” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

clouds

Also: haze
NounfA1
Several fluffy, white cumulus clouds are scattered across a vibrant blue sky.

📝 In Action

Hoy hay muchas nubes grises, creo que va a llover.

A1

There are many gray clouds today, I think it's going to rain.

Las nubes se movían rápido por el viento fuerte.

A2

The clouds were moving quickly because of the strong wind.

Me encanta ver las formas de las nubes cuando estoy en el campo.

B1

I love seeing the shapes of the clouds when I'm in the countryside.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • nubarrón (large, dark cloud)
  • celaje (sky view/cloudscape)

Antonyms

  • cielo despejado (clear sky)

Common Collocations

  • nubes negras – dark clouds
  • formación de nubes – cloud formation

daydreaming

Also: trouble
NounfB2informal
A person sitting peacefully, looking off into the distance with a thoughtful expression. Small, stylized white clouds gently float around their head, symbolizing being lost in thought.

📝 In Action

María siempre está en las nubes y no presta atención a la clase.

B2

Maria is always daydreaming (in the clouds) and doesn't pay attention in class.

Se avecinan nubes en la economía mundial, debemos prepararnos.

C1

Trouble (clouds) is approaching in the global economy; we must prepare ourselves.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • distraído (distracted)

Antonyms

Idioms & Expressions

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "nubes" in Spanish:

clouds→daydreaming→trouble→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: nubes

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'nubes' in its figurative, non-literal meaning?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
nube(cloud (singular)) — Noun
nublado(cloudy) — Adjective
nublar(to cloud over/to blur) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
tubossubes
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes directly from the Latin word *nūbēs*, which meant 'cloud' or 'mist.' The meaning has been consistent for thousands of years, referring to the water vapor formations in the sky.

First recorded: Before the 10th century (derived from Vulgar Latin)

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: nuvensItalian: nuvole

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'nubes' (plural) used even when referring to a single state of mind?

Many common Spanish idioms use the plural form of a noun even when the concept is singular. 'Estar en las nubes' is one of these set phrases, possibly because the sky is seen as containing many clouds.