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paraíso

pah-rah-EE-soh/pa.ɾaˈi.so/

“paraíso” means “paradise” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

paradise

Also: haven, utopia
NounmB1
A secluded, lush tropical beach with white sand, turquoise water, and colorful blooming flowers under a bright sun, illustrating an ideal place.

📝 In Action

Esa playa de arena blanca es un verdadero paraíso tropical.

B1

That white sand beach is a true tropical paradise.

Para un amante de los libros, una librería antigua es su paraíso personal.

B2

For a book lover, an old bookstore is their personal paradise.

Dicen que el sur de España es un paraíso para los jubilados.

B1

They say the south of Spain is a paradise for retirees.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • Edén (Eden)
  • maravilla (wonder)
  • nirvana (nirvana)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • paraíso fiscal – tax haven
  • paraíso perdido – lost paradise

Paradise

Also: Heaven
NounmC1formal/literary
A tranquil, eternal garden scene full of diverse green foliage, ripe fruit hanging from trees, and gentle deer grazing peacefully, symbolizing the Garden of Eden.

📝 In Action

La creencia en el paraíso después de la muerte es central en muchas religiones.

C1

The belief in paradise after death is central to many religions.

El paraíso terrenal, según la tradición, fue el hogar original del hombre.

C2

The earthly paradise, according to tradition, was humanity's original home.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: paraíso

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'paraíso' in its figurative, most common sense?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
paradisíaco(paradisiacal) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
sumisoconciso
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Late Latin word *paradīsus*, which was borrowed from the Ancient Greek word *parádeisos*. The original root is Old Iranian (Avestan) *pairidaēza*, meaning 'enclosure' or 'walled garden', referring to the beautiful royal hunting parks of Persia.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: paradiseFrench: paradisPortuguese: paraíso

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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'.