raro
/RRA-roh/
strange
The blue banana is unusual and out of place, visually representing raro as 'strange' or 'weird'.
raro(Adjective)
strange
?Describing something unusual or out of the ordinary.
,weird
?A slightly more informal way to say something is strange.
odd
📝 In Action
Tuve un sueño muy raro anoche.
A2I had a very strange dream last night.
Mi vecino es un tipo un poco raro, casi nunca habla.
B1My neighbor is a bit of a weird guy, he almost never speaks.
¡Qué raro! Pensé que había dejado mis llaves aquí.
A2How strange! I thought I had left my keys here.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Noun
Like most describing words in Spanish, 'raro' changes to match the person or thing it describes. Use 'raro' for masculine things, 'rara' for feminine, 'raros' for masculine plural, and 'raras' for feminine plural. (e.g., 'un libro raro', 'una película rara').
Ser vs. Estar: Is it a trait or a temporary state?
Use 'ser raro' to say someone or something has a strange personality or nature (it's who they are). Use 'estar raro' to say someone is acting strangely right now (it's how they are).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Steak that's 'Rare'
Mistake: "Quiero mi bistec raro, por favor."
Correction: This sounds like you want a 'strange steak'! To say you want meat that's not cooked much, use 'poco hecho'. For example: 'Quiero mi bistec poco hecho, por favor.'
⭐ Usage Tips
A Quick Reaction
The phrase '¡Qué raro!' (How strange!) is a super common and natural way to react to surprising or unexpected information.
The single golden tulip is hard to find, illustrating the meaning of raro as 'rare' or 'infrequent'.
raro(Adjective)
rare
?Describing something that doesn't happen often.
,infrequent
scarce
?When talking about resources or opportunities.
,uncommon
📝 In Action
Es raro ver nevar en esta ciudad.
B1It's rare to see snow in this city.
Encontrar un diamante de este tamaño es extremadamente raro.
B2Finding a diamond of this size is extremely rare.
Rara vez salgo a cenar durante la semana.
B1I rarely go out to dinner during the week.
💡 Grammar Points
Placement is Key
Usually, 'raro' comes after the thing it describes, like in 'una flor rara' (a rare flower). However, in the very common phrase 'rara vez' (rarely), it comes first.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Strange vs. Infrequent
Mistake: "Mi profesor es raro. Solo da exámenes una vez al mes."
Correction: This sentence could be confusing. Does it mean the professor is a weird person? Or that it's infrequent for him to give exams? For clarity, you could say: 'Es raro que mi profesor dé exámenes tan infrecuentemente' (It's strange that my professor gives exams so infrequently).
⭐ Usage Tips
Sound More Natural
Instead of always saying 'casi nunca' (almost never), try using 'rara vez'. It means the same thing and will make your Spanish sound more advanced.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: raro
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'raro' to mean 'infrequent'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'ser raro' and 'estar raro'?
Think of it as 'being' vs. 'acting'. 'Ser raro' describes a person's fundamental personality or a thing's nature (e.g., 'Él es un hombre raro' - He is a strange man). 'Estar raro' describes a temporary state or behavior (e.g., 'Él está raro hoy' - He is acting strange today).
How do I know if 'raro' means 'strange' or 'rare'?
Context is everything! If someone is talking about how often something happens (or doesn't happen), it probably means 'rare/infrequent'. If they are describing a person's behavior, a dream, or an unusual object, it most likely means 'strange/weird'.