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A simple wooden storage crate is shown, filled to the brim with various essential resources like food cans, rope, and medical supplies.

suministros

soo-mee-NEES-trohs

NounmB1
supplies?General term for necessary goods or resources,provisions?Especially food or emergency items
Also:stores?A collection of items kept for future use,commodities?Goods used in trade or production

📝 In Action

Se agotaron los suministros médicos después del huracán.

B1

The medical supplies ran out after the hurricane.

Necesitamos comprar más suministros de oficina, como papel y bolígrafos.

A2

We need to buy more office supplies, like paper and pens.

La empresa gestiona la cadena de suministros para reducir costos.

B2

The company manages the supply chain to reduce costs.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • provisiones (provisions)
  • víveres (food supplies)
  • materiales (materials)

Common Collocations

  • cadena de suministros – supply chain
  • suministros básicos – basic supplies
  • suministros de emergencia – emergency supplies

💡 Grammar Points

Always Plural in This Context

When talking about the general collection of needed items (like 'office supplies' or 'medical supplies'), Spanish almost always uses the plural form, 'los suministros'.

Related Verb

The noun comes from the verb 'suministrar,' which means 'to provide' or 'to supply.' This helps you remember that 'suministros' are the things being provided.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Singular/Plural

Mistake: "Using 'el suministro' when you mean 'the supplies' (a collection of things)."

Correction: Use 'los suministros' to talk about a collection of goods. 'El suministro' (singular) usually refers to the *act* of supplying or a single utility, like 'the electricity supply'.

⭐ Usage Tips

For Office/School Items

This is the standard word for 'office supplies' ('suministros de oficina') or 'school supplies' ('suministros escolares').

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: suministros

Question 1 of 1

¿Cuál es la mejor traducción para la frase: 'Compramos los suministros de camping'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

suministro(supply (singular/act of supplying)) - noun
suministrar(to supply, to provide) - verb
suministrador(supplier, provider) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

If 'suministros' means 'supplies,' how do I talk about a single supply item?

If you are referring to one specific item from the collection, you would use its specific name (e.g., 'el bolígrafo,' 'la batería'). 'Suministros' is best used for the general category or the collection of necessary goods.