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pupila

poo-PEE-lah/puˈpila/

pupil

Also: eye
NounfB1
A close-up illustration of a human eye focusing on the dark circular opening in the center.

📝 In Action

Las pupilas se dilatan cuando hay poca luz.

B1

The pupils dilate when there is little light.

El médico examinó su pupila con una linterna pequeña.

B1

The doctor examined her pupil with a small flashlight.

Sus pupilas brillaban de emoción al ver el regalo.

B2

Her eyes (pupils) sparkled with excitement upon seeing the gift.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • niña del ojo (apple of my eye (literally 'girl of the eye'))

Common Collocations

  • pupilas dilatadas – dilated pupils
  • pupilas contraídas – contracted/pinpoint pupils
  • dilatación de la pupila – dilation of the pupil

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser la niña de sus ojos – to be the 'apple of someone's eye' or their favorite person

ward

Also: boarder
NounfC1formal
An illustration of a young girl holding the hand of a kind adult guardian.

📝 In Action

La joven pupila quedó bajo la protección de su tío.

C1

The young ward remained under her uncle's protection.

Había tres pupilas nuevas en la casa de huéspedes.

C2

There were three new female boarders in the guest house.

El tutor debe velar por los bienes de su pupila.

C1

The guardian must look after his ward's assets.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • protegida (protege/ward)
  • alumna (student)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • casa de pupilas – boarding house (archaic)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "pupila" in Spanish:

boarder→eye→pupil→ward→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: pupila

Question 1 of 3

Which part of the body is a 'pupila'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
pupilo(ward/student (male)) — Noun
pupilar(relating to the pupil) — Adjective
pupilaje(boarding/status of a ward) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'pupilla,' which is a tiny version of 'pupa' (doll). It was named this because if you look closely into someone's eye, you see a tiny 'doll-like' reflection of yourself.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: pupilFrench: pupilleItalian: pupilla

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'pupila' related to the word for student in English?

Yes! Both English and Spanish use the same root. In Spanish, however, the 'eye' meaning is much more common than the 'student' meaning.

How do you say 'dilated pupils' in Spanish?

You say 'pupilas dilatadas'.

Can 'pupila' be masculine?

If you are talking about the eye, no—it is always 'la pupila'. If you are talking about a male ward or boarder, you change the word to 'el pupilo'.