obstáculo
/ob-STAH-koo-loh/
hurdle
In a physical sense, an 'obstáculo' can be a hurdle used in a race.
obstáculo(noun)
hurdle
?a physical object to jump over
,barrier
?a physical block
steeplechase
?referring to the athletic event
📝 In Action
El atleta saltó el último obstáculo y ganó la carrera.
A2The athlete jumped the last hurdle and won the race.
Pusieron obstáculos en la calle para detener el tráfico.
B1They put barriers in the street to stop the traffic.
💡 Grammar Points
Identifying the gender
This is a 'boy' word (masculine). Since it ends in 'o', it uses 'el' or 'un'. Always say 'el obstáculo'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Spelling confusion
Mistake: "ostáculo"
Correction: obstáculo (with a 'b'). Even though the 'b' is quiet in some accents, it must be written.
⭐ Usage Tips
Where to put the stress
The little mark (accent) on the 'á' tells you to pop that syllable. Say it: ob-STAH-koo-loh.
An 'obstáculo' is also any difficulty or object that stops your progress.
obstáculo(noun)
obstacle
?a difficulty that stops progress
,setback
?something that slows you down
impediment
?something that gets in the way
,snag
?a small, unexpected problem
📝 In Action
La falta de dinero es un gran obstáculo para mis planes.
B1The lack of money is a big obstacle for my plans.
Superamos todos los obstáculos y terminamos el proyecto.
B2We overcame all the obstacles and finished the project.
💡 Grammar Points
Action words to use
In Spanish, we don't just 'get past' obstacles; we 'superar' (overcome) them or 'quitar' (remove) them.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using it as a verb
Mistake: ""
Correction:
⭐ Usage Tips
Sounding natural
When someone is being unhelpful, you can say 'Me estás poniendo muchos obstáculos' (You are putting up many obstacles for me).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: obstáculo
Question 1 of 2
Which verb means 'to overcome an obstacle' in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'obstáculo' only for physical things like fences?
No! Just like in English, it is very common to use it for life challenges, money problems, or learning difficulties.
Do I have to pronounce the 'b'?
Yes, but it's very soft. In many Spanish-speaking countries, the 'b' is almost silent, sounding more like 'os-táculo', but in writing and formal speech, the 'b' is always there.