Inklingo
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película

/peh-LEE-koo-lah/

movie

A vintage film projector shining a bright, square beam onto a large white screen in a dark cinema setting.

The most common meaning of 'película' is 'movie' or 'film'.

película(Noun)

fA1

movie

?

a motion picture for entertainment

,

film

?

often used just like 'movie'

📝 In Action

¿Quieres ver una película esta noche?

A1

Do you want to watch a movie tonight?

Mi película favorita es de ciencia ficción.

A2

My favorite movie is science fiction.

El director ganó un premio por su última película.

B1

The director won an award for his latest film.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • filme (film)
  • cinta (film (literally 'tape'))

Common Collocations

  • película de acción – action movie
  • película de terror – horror movie
  • ver una película – to watch a movie
  • película de animación – animated movie

Idioms & Expressions

  • montarse una película – To imagine things that aren't true; to make a big deal out of nothing.

💡 Grammar Points

Always a Feminine Word

'Película' is a feminine word, so you always use 'la' or 'una' with it. For example, 'la película' (the movie) or 'una película de amor' (a love movie).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Saying 'Movie' in Spanish

Mistake: "A common mix-up for English speakers is simply saying 'movie' when speaking Spanish."

Correction: Remember that the correct word is 'película'. While some people might understand 'movie' depending on the context, 'película' is the right word to use.

⭐ Usage Tips

Talking About Movie Genres

To say what type of movie it is, just add 'de' and the genre after 'película'. For example, 'película de comedia' (comedy movie) or 'película de ciencia ficción' (sci-fi movie).

A close-up of a dark, smooth wooden surface visibly covered by a uniform, thin layer of grey dust.

In a technical context, 'película' can mean a 'thin layer' or 'film', like a coating of dust.

película(Noun)

fB2

film

?

a thin layer or coating

,

thin layer

?

e.g., of dust, oil, or grease

Also:

skin

?

e.g., on top of pudding or soup

,

membrane

?

a thin sheet of tissue

📝 In Action

Una fina película de polvo cubría los muebles.

B2

A thin film of dust covered the furniture.

Se formó una película sobre la superficie del café frío.

B2

A skin formed on the surface of the cold coffee.

El aceite dejó una película iridiscente en el agua.

C1

The oil left an iridescent film on the water.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • capa (layer)
  • membrana (membrane)

Common Collocations

  • una película de grasa – a film of grease
  • película protectora – protective film/coating

⭐ Usage Tips

Connecting the Meanings

Think about old movie reels. They were literally long strips of 'film'. This original meaning of a thin layer or 'film' is where the modern word for 'movie' comes from!

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: película

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'película' to mean a thin layer?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

peliculero(drama queen, someone who exaggerates) - adjective/noun

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).