salvavidas
/sal-ba-BEE-dahs/
life jacket
A 'salvavidas' can refer to a life jacket used for safety on the water.
salvavidas(noun)
life jacket
?wearable safety gear
,lifebuoy
?floating ring used for rescue
spare tire
?informal slang for body fat around the waist
📝 In Action
Es obligatorio llevar el salvavidas puesto en el barco.
A2It is mandatory to wear the life jacket on the boat.
El marinero lanzó un salvavidas al agua para ayudar al nadador.
B1The sailor threw a lifebuoy into the water to help the swimmer.
💡 Grammar Points
One or Many?
This word stays exactly the same whether you are talking about one life jacket or ten! To show there are more than one, just change 'el' to 'los'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't change the ending
Mistake: "los salvavidases"
Correction: los salvavidas
⭐ Usage Tips
Body Confidence
In many Spanish-speaking countries, people jokingly call 'love handles' or belly fat 'salvavidas' because they look like a floating ring around the waist!
The word 'salvavidas' also means a lifeguard who keeps swimmers safe.
salvavidas(noun)
lifeguard
?the person who rescues swimmers
lifesaver
?figurative; a person who helps in a difficult time
📝 In Action
El salvavidas está vigilando a los niños en la piscina.
A2The lifeguard is watching the children in the pool.
¡Eres un salvavidas! Gracias por ayudarme con mi tarea.
B1You're a lifesaver! Thanks for helping me with my homework.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender for People
When talking about a person, you use 'el salvavidas' for a man and 'la salvavidas' for a woman. The word itself doesn't change!
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Choice
If you are in Spain, you'll hear the word 'socorrista' much more often than 'salvavidas' for the person at the beach.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: salvavidas
Question 1 of 2
How do you say 'The life jackets' (plural) in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'salvavidas' masculine or feminine?
It is naturally masculine when referring to the object (el salvavidas). When referring to a person, it can be masculine (el salvavidas) or feminine (la salvavidas) depending on the person's gender.
Can I use it for 'lifesaver' candy?
No, the candy brand is usually kept in English or called 'caramelos' or 'dulces'. 'Salvavidas' refers to the safety equipment or a helpful person.