submarino
/soob-mah-REE-noh/
submarine
A submarino (submarine) is a vessel designed for underwater travel.
📝 In Action
El submarino nuclear zarpó del puerto esta mañana.
B1The nuclear submarine sailed out of the port this morning.
Vimos un documental sobre la vida dentro de un submarino.
A2We watched a documentary about life inside a submarine.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Reminder
Even though it travels in the sea (la mar), 'submarino' is always masculine: 'el submarino'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Common
While 'sumergible' is technically broader (any diving vehicle), 'submarino' is the standard word for the large military or research vessel.
The adjective submarino describes something located or happening underwater.
submarino(adjective)
underwater
?describing location or activity
,submarine
?pertaining to the sea surface
marine
?relating to the ocean (less common than 'marino')
📝 In Action
Necesitamos reparar el cable submarino que conecta los continentes.
B2We need to repair the underwater cable that connects the continents.
La flora submarina es increíblemente diversa en esta zona.
B2The submarine (underwater) flora is incredibly diverse in this area.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Agreement
As an adjective, 'submarino' must match the thing it describes. Use 'submarina' for feminine nouns (e.g., 'la cueva submarina').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting Agreement
Mistake: "La vida submarino."
Correction: La vida submarina. The adjective must end in '-a' because 'vida' is feminine.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Location
You can often replace 'submarino' with 'debajo del agua' (under the water) for simplicity, but 'submarino' sounds more formal and scientific.
In some regions, submarino is used colloquially to mean a sub sandwich.
📝 In Action
Vamos a comprar un submarino de pavo y queso para el almuerzo.
B1We are going to buy a turkey and cheese sub sandwich for lunch.
Prefiero pedir un submarino grande que dos pequeños.
C1I prefer to order one large sub than two small ones.
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Food Term
This meaning is common in Mexico and parts of Central America. In Spain or other areas, you might use 'bocadillo' or 'sándwich'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: submarino
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'submarino' as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
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'.