A bright red open umbrella standing against a light blue background with gentle raindrops.

paraguas

pah-RAH-gwahs

nounmA1

umbrella?a handheld device used to protect oneself from rain

Also:sunshade?occasionally used for large handheld shades, though 'sombrilla' is more common for sun

📝 In Action

Lleva el paraguas porque está lloviendo.

Take the umbrella because it is raining.

He perdido mi paraguas en el autobús.

I lost my umbrella on the bus.

Necesitamos un paraguas grande para los dos.

We need a big umbrella for both of us.

Word Connections

Synonyms

sombrilla (parasol/sunshade)

Common Collocations

abrir el paraguas – to open the umbrella
cerrar el paraguas – to close the umbrella
paraguas plegable – folding/collapsible umbrella

Idioms & Expressions

abrir el paraguas antes de que llueva – to take precautions before a problem actually happens

💡 Grammar Points

The 'Hidden' Plural

This word looks plural because it ends in 's,' but it's actually singular! To make it plural, you don't change the word; you just change the word 'the' before it: 'el paraguas' (one) vs. 'los paraguas' (many).

It's Masculine

Even though it ends in '-as' (which usually looks feminine), this word is masculine. Always use 'el' or 'un' with it.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Don't say 'la paragua'

Mistake: "la paragua"

Correction: el paraguas

⭐ Usage Tips

Rain vs. Sun

In Spanish, we use 'paraguas' for rain (it literally means 'stops waters') and 'sombrilla' for the sun (it literally means 'little shade').

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: paraguas

Question 1 of 2

How do you say 'the umbrellas' (plural) in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

parar(to stop) - verb

agua(water) - noun

paragüero(umbrella stand) - noun

parasol(sunshade) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'paraguas' singular or plural?

It can be both! The word itself always ends in 's'. You tell if it's singular or plural by looking at the words around it, like 'el paraguas' (one) or 'dos paraguas' (two).

Can I use 'paraguas' for the beach?

Usually, for the beach or sun protection, Spanish speakers prefer the word 'sombrilla' or 'parasol.' 'Paraguas' is specifically for rain.