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submarino

soob-mah-REE-nohsuβmaˈɾino

submarine

Also: U-boat
NounmB1
A bright yellow submarine vessel sailing deep underwater, creating small trails of bubbles.

📝 In Action

El submarino nuclear zarpó del puerto esta mañana.

B1

The nuclear submarine sailed out of the port this morning.

Vimos un documental sobre la vida dentro de un submarino.

A2

We watched a documentary about life inside a submarine.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • sumergible (submersible)

Common Collocations

  • submarino nuclear – nuclear submarine
  • submarino de ataque – attack submarine

underwater, submarine

Also: marine
A colorful clownfish swimming among vibrant green and pink coral on the ocean floor.

📝 In Action

Necesitamos reparar el cable submarino que conecta los continentes.

B2

We need to repair the underwater cable that connects the continents.

La flora submarina es increíblemente diversa en esta zona.

B2

The submarine (underwater) flora is incredibly diverse in this area.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • subacuático (underwater (lit. under water))

Antonyms

  • aéreo (aerial)

Common Collocations

  • vida submarina – underwater life
  • montaña submarina – seamount/underwater mountain

sub sandwich, hoagie

Also: long sandwich
NounmC1informal
Mexico
A long, hearty sub sandwich filled with layers of meat, cheese, and lettuce, resting on a wooden cutting board.

📝 In Action

Vamos a comprar un submarino de pavo y queso para el almuerzo.

B1

We are going to buy a turkey and cheese sub sandwich for lunch.

Prefiero pedir un submarino grande que dos pequeños.

C1

I prefer to order one large sub than two small ones.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: submarino

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'submarino' as an adjective?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Formed by combining the Latin prefix 'sub-' (meaning 'under' or 'below') with the Spanish word 'marino' (meaning 'marine' or 'of the sea'). Literally, it means 'under the sea'.

First recorded: 19th century (as the name for the vessel)

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: sottomarinoPortuguese: submarino

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'submarino' only used for military vessels?

No. While it often refers to military vessels, 'submarino' can also describe non-military research vessels or simply anything related to the deep sea, like 'un volcán submarino' (an underwater volcano).

How do I say 'underwater' if I don't want to use the adjective 'submarino'?

A very common and simple way is to use the phrase 'debajo del agua' (literally 'under the water'). For example, 'Hay un tesoro debajo del agua'.