superficie
/soo-per-FEE-see-eh/
surface
The superficie of the water is the top layer.
superficie(noun)
surface
?outer layer/top side
top
?the upper part
,face
?the visible side of an object
📝 In Action
No toques la superficie del cristal, está caliente.
A2Don't touch the surface of the glass, it's hot.
El bote flotaba en la superficie del lago.
B1The boat floated on the surface of the lake.
La luna tiene una superficie rocosa y llena de cráteres.
B2The moon has a rocky surface full of craters.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Alert
Even though it ends in '-ie,' 'superficie' is a feminine word. Always use 'la' or 'una' before it (la superficie).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Incorrect Gender
Mistake: "El superficie es liso."
Correction: La superficie es lisa. (Remember it is feminine, 'la' and 'lisa' must match.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Use
You can use this word figuratively, like 'keeping things on the surface' (mantener las cosas en la superficie), meaning not dealing with deep issues.
We measured the superficie (area) of the field.
📝 In Action
La superficie total del terreno es de dos hectáreas.
B1The total area of the land is two hectares.
Calculamos la superficie de la pared para saber cuánta pintura comprar.
B2We calculated the area of the wall to know how much paint to buy.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context Clue for Area
If 'superficie' is followed by a number and a unit of measure (like meters squared), it means 'area' or 'size' in that context.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: superficie
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'superficie' to describe a measurement rather than a physical layer?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Es 'superficie' masculino o femenino?
'Superficie' is always feminine. You must use 'la superficie' or 'una superficie.' This is a common error because many Spanish words ending in -e can be masculine, but this one is definitely feminine.
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'superficie' y 'área'?
They are often interchangeable when talking about measurements, but 'superficie' can also mean the physical top layer (like the surface of the water), while 'área' strictly refers to the measured size or extent.