palabra
“palabra” means “word” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
word
📝 In Action
¿Cómo se escribe esta palabra?
A1How do you write this word?
No entiendo la última palabra de la frase.
A1I don't understand the last word of the sentence.
Necesito escribir un ensayo de mil palabras.
A2I need to write a one-thousand-word essay.
promise
Also: one's word
📝 In Action
Te doy mi palabra de que te ayudaré.
B1I give you my word that I will help you.
Ella es una mujer de palabra; si lo dijo, lo hará.
B1She is a woman of her word; if she said it, she'll do it.
No puedes retirar tu palabra ahora.
B2You can't take back your promise now.
the floor
Also: turn to speak
📝 In Action
Si quiere hablar, tiene que pedir la palabra.
B1If you want to speak, you have to ask for the floor.
La moderadora le concedió la palabra al experto.
B2The moderator gave the floor to the expert.
El orador tomó la palabra para empezar su discurso.
C1The speaker took the floor to begin his speech.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: palabra
Question 1 of 1
In the sentence 'En una reunión formal, tienes que pedir la ______ para hablar', which meaning of 'palabra' is used?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'parabola', which originally meant a 'comparison' or 'story with a moral'. In everyday Latin, it gradually came to mean 'speech' and then simply 'word'.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the expression 'tener la última palabra' mean?
It means 'to have the final say' or 'to have the last word' in a discussion, argument, or decision. It implies that this person's opinion is the one that ultimately counts or ends the debate.