sábana
“sábana” means “sheet” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
sheet
Also: bedsheet
📝 In Action
Necesito comprar un juego de sábanas nuevas para mi cama.
A1I need to buy a new set of sheets for my bed.
El niño se escondió debajo de la sábana blanca.
A2The boy hid under the white sheet.
Prefiero las sábanas de algodón porque son más frescas en verano.
B1I prefer cotton sheets because they are cooler in the summer.
expanse
Also: shroud
📝 In Action
Una sábana de nieve cubría todo el valle.
B2A blanket of snow covered the entire valley.
El barco desapareció tras una sábana de niebla.
C1The boat disappeared behind a shroud of fog.
Vocabulary Collections
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: sábana
Question 1 of 3
What is the difference between 'sábana' and 'sabana'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'sabanum' (a linen cloth), which actually came from a Greek word meaning the same thing. Historically, it referred to any piece of cloth used for drying or covering.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I always need the accent on the first 'a'?
Yes! In Spanish, words with the stress on the third-to-last syllable (called 'esdrújulas') always require a written accent mark.
Is 'sábana' used for a sheet of paper?
No, for paper you should use 'hoja'. 'Sábana' is specifically for cloth or large expanses like snow or water.
Is it 'el sábana' or 'la sábana'?
It is always 'la sábana' because it is a feminine noun.