película
“película” means “movie” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
movie, film
📝 In Action
¿Quieres ver una película esta noche?
A1Do you want to watch a movie tonight?
Mi película favorita es de ciencia ficción.
A2My favorite movie is science fiction.
El director ganó un premio por su última película.
B1The director won an award for his latest film.
film, thin layer
Also: skin, membrane
📝 In Action
Una fina película de polvo cubría los muebles.
B2A thin film of dust covered the furniture.
Se formó una película sobre la superficie del café frío.
B2A skin formed on the surface of the cold coffee.
El aceite dejó una película iridiscente en el agua.
C1The oil left an iridescent film on the water.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "película" in Spanish:
thin layer→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: película
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'película' to mean a thin layer?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'pellicula,' which is a smaller version of 'pellis' meaning 'skin' or 'hide.' It literally means 'little skin,' which perfectly describes a thin layer or the film used for old cameras.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'película' and 'cine'?
'Película' is the movie itself, the thing you watch. 'Cine' refers to the movie theater or the art of cinema in general. So, you go 'al cine' (to the movies) to see 'una película' (a movie).
How do I say 'movie trailer' in Spanish?
The most common way is to say 'el tráiler', which is borrowed from English. You can also use 'el avance'. For example, 'Vi el tráiler de la nueva película' (I saw the trailer for the new movie).