paraíso
/pah-rah-EE-soh/
paradise
A place of perfect beauty and tranquility, an ideal location, is often described as a paraíso.
paraíso(noun)
paradise
?ideal place, beautiful location
haven
?safe or beautiful spot
,utopia
?perfect place
📝 In Action
Esa playa de arena blanca es un verdadero paraíso tropical.
B1That white sand beach is a true tropical paradise.
Para un amante de los libros, una librería antigua es su paraíso personal.
B2For a book lover, an old bookstore is their personal paradise.
Dicen que el sur de España es un paraíso para los jubilados.
B1They say the south of Spain is a paradise for retirees.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun
Remember that 'paraíso' is always a masculine noun, so it takes 'el' (the) or 'un' (a): 'el paraíso', 'un paraíso'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Intensifying the Feeling
To really emphasize the beauty, you can use 'un verdadero paraíso' (a true paradise) or 'un paraíso en la Tierra' (a paradise on Earth).
Paraíso also refers to the ultimate spiritual dwelling, such as the Garden of Eden or heaven.
📝 In Action
La creencia en el paraíso después de la muerte es central en muchas religiones.
C1The belief in paradise after death is central to many religions.
El paraíso terrenal, según la tradición, fue el hogar original del hombre.
C2The earthly paradise, according to tradition, was humanity's original home.
💡 Grammar Points
Capitalization in Religious Contexts
In Spanish, the word 'paraíso' is usually written in lowercase, even when referring to Heaven or Eden, unless it starts a sentence.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: paraíso
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'paraíso' in its figurative, most common sense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'paraíso' have an accent mark on the 'i'?
The accent mark is there to show that the 'a' and the 'í' must be pronounced as two separate syllables (pa-ra-í-so). Without the accent, the 'ai' would usually blend into a single sound, but the accent ensures the strong, separate vowel sound.
Is 'paraíso' only used for tropical places?
No. While it's often used for beaches ('tropical paradise'), you can use it for any perfect location or situation: a quiet cabin, a perfect meal, or even a state of mind. It just means 'ideal spot' or 'utopia'.