oculto
“oculto” means “hidden” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
hidden, concealed
Also: unseen
📝 In Action
El tesoro permaneció oculto durante siglos.
B1The treasure remained hidden for centuries.
Encontraron una habitación oculta detrás de la estantería.
A2They found a hidden room behind the bookcase.
Necesitas buscar un interruptor oculto para abrir la puerta.
B1You need to look for a concealed switch to open the door.
secret, mysterious
Also: occult, arcane
📝 In Action
El libro trataba sobre las fuerzas ocultas del universo.
C1The book dealt with the hidden forces of the universe.
Ella tenía un motivo oculto para ayudarles.
B2She had a secret motive for helping them.
La verdad oculta de la historia salió a la luz.
C1The mysterious truth of the story came to light.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "oculto" in Spanish:
arcane→concealed→hidden→mysterious→occult→secret→unseen→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: oculto
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'oculto' in the figurative sense of 'secret knowledge'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'oculto' comes directly from the Latin word *occultus*, which was the past form of the verb *occulere*, meaning 'to cover up' or 'to hide away'. It has always carried the meaning of being secret or concealed.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'oculto' the same as 'escondido'?
They are very similar synonyms and often interchangeable when talking about physical objects being out of sight. However, 'oculto' is much more common and preferred when talking about abstract things like 'secret motives' or 'hidden meanings' ('motivos ocultos').
How do I make 'oculto' plural?
Since 'oculto' is an adjective, you just add an 's' to the end. Remember to match the gender of the noun too! 'El mensaje oculto' becomes 'Los mensajes ocultos'. 'La agenda oculta' becomes 'Las agendas ocultas'.