preciosas
“preciosas” means “beautiful” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
beautiful
Also: gorgeous, lovely
📝 In Action
Tus hijas son preciosas.
A1Your daughters are beautiful.
Las vistas desde la montaña son preciosas.
A2The views from the mountain are gorgeous.
¡Qué flores tan preciosas compraste!
A2What lovely flowers you bought!
precious
Also: valuable
📝 In Action
La corona tiene muchas piedras preciosas.
B1The crown has many precious stones.
Guardo estas fotos porque son preciosas para mí.
B2I keep these photos because they are precious (valuable) to me.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: preciosas
Question 1 of 2
Which of these would you most likely describe as 'piedras preciosas'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'pretiosus', meaning 'valuable' or 'costly'. This comes from 'pretium', which means 'price'. Over time, the meaning shifted from just being expensive to being beautiful and high-quality.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'preciosas' only for women?
No, it's for any group of things that are grammatically feminine. This includes 'flores' (flowers), 'casas' (houses), or 'vistas' (views), as well as women or girls.
What is the difference between 'bonitas' and 'preciosas'?
'Bonitas' means pretty or nice. 'Preciosas' is much more intense, meaning gorgeous, stunning, or extremely beautiful.