octavo
“octavo” means “eighth” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
eighth
Also: 8th
📝 In Action
Este es el octavo libro que leo este año.
A1This is the eighth book I've read this year.
Mi oficina está en el octavo piso.
A2My office is on the eighth floor.
El corredor llegó en octavo lugar.
B1The runner arrived in eighth place.
one-eighth
Also: eighth part
📝 In Action
Solo me queda un octavo de la tarta.
B1I only have one-eighth of the cake left.
Añade un octavo de taza de azúcar.
B2Add one-eighth of a cup of sugar.
Corta la madera en octavos.
C1Cut the wood into eighths.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: octavo
Question 1 of 3
How would you say 'I live on the 8th floor'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'octavus', which comes from 'octo' meaning eight. It has been used in Spanish since the language first developed to denote rank and portions.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
When do I use 'octava' instead of 'octavo'?
Use 'octava' when the noun it describes is feminine, like 'la octava maravilla' (the eighth wonder) or 'la octava vez' (the eighth time).
Is 'octavo' used for dates?
No, in Spanish we usually use regular numbers for dates (el ocho de marzo), except for the first of the month (el primero).
Can 'octavo' mean a size of a book?
Yes, in printing, an 'octavo' refers to a book size where each sheet is folded into eight leaves.