plano
“plano” means “flat” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
flat, level
Also: smooth
📝 In Action
Necesitamos una superficie completamente plana para construir la pared.
A2We need a completely flat surface to build the wall.
La carretera es muy plana aquí; no hay colinas.
A1The road is very level here; there are no hills.
map, blueprint
Also: plan
📝 In Action
Perdí el plano de la ciudad y ahora no sé cómo volver.
A2I lost the map of the city and now I don't know how to get back.
El ingeniero revisó el plano antes de empezar la construcción.
B1The engineer reviewed the blueprint before starting construction.
shot, plane
Also: close-up (when combined with 'primer')
📝 In Action
El director decidió hacer un primer plano de sus ojos para mostrar la emoción.
B2The director decided to do a close-up shot of her eyes to show the emotion.
El plano general captura todo el paisaje de la montaña.
C1The wide shot captures the entire mountain landscape.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: plano
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'plano' as a noun meaning 'blueprint'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Latin adjective *planus*, which meant 'level' or 'flat.' It has maintained this fundamental meaning throughout its evolution into Spanish.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'plano' mean both 'flat' and 'map/blueprint'?
The two meanings are connected! A map or blueprint is essentially a flat, two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional space. The noun meaning is derived directly from the adjective's core idea of 'flatness'.
Can I use 'plano' to mean 'plan' like in 'I have a plan for the weekend'?
No, not usually. For a chronological or intentional plan (like weekend activities or a strategy), you should use 'plan' (el plan). 'Plano' is reserved for visual diagrams, maps, or blueprints.