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roble

ROH-bleh/ˈroβle/

“roble” means “oak” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

oak

Also: hardwood
NounmA2
Spain
A large, sturdy oak tree with a thick trunk and lush green leaves in a sunny field.

📝 In Action

Hay un roble muy viejo en el centro del parque.

A1

There is a very old oak tree in the center of the park.

Compramos una mesa de comedor hecha de madera de roble.

B1

We bought a dining table made of oak wood.

Las hojas del roble se vuelven marrones en el otoño.

A2

Oak leaves turn brown in the autumn.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • encina (holm oak)
  • carballo (oak (specifically in Galicia/North Spain))

Antonyms

  • pino (pine (often used to contrast soft vs hard wood))

Common Collocations

  • madera de roble – oak wood
  • hoja de roble – oak leaf
  • muebles de roble – oak furniture

Idioms & Expressions

  • fuerte como un roble – extremely strong or in excellent health

pillar of strength

Also: sturdy
NounmB2
A strong person standing tall and supportive like a solid mountain peak in a bright landscape.

📝 In Action

Mi abuela tiene noventa años y está como un roble.

B1

My grandmother is ninety years old and is as healthy as an oak.

Tras perder su trabajo, él se mantuvo como un roble por sus hijos.

B2

After losing his job, he remained a pillar of strength for his children.

Es un roble; nada de lo que digas le va a afectar.

C1

He is a rock; nothing you say is going to affect him.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • estar como un roble – to be as fit as a fiddle / in great health

Vocabulary Collections

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "roble" in Spanish:

hardwood→oak→sturdy→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: roble

Question 1 of 3

What does the expression 'estar como un roble' mean?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
robledal(oak grove) — Noun
robustez(robustness/sturdiness) — Noun
robusto(robust/strong) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'robur', which meant both the specific oak tree and 'strength' or 'hardwood' in general.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: robustItalian: rovereFrench: rouvre

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Frequently Asked Questions

What fruit does a 'roble' produce?

The fruit of the roble is the 'bellota' (acorn).

Can I use 'roble' for any hard wood?

Strictly speaking, it only refers to oak. However, because it's so synonymous with strength, people sometimes use it to emphasize that any wood is very hard.

Is 'roble' the same as 'encina'?

They are related. An 'encina' is a specific type of evergreen oak (holm oak) very common in Spain, while 'roble' is the more general term for oak trees (often the deciduous ones).