superman
“superman” means “Superman (the superhero)” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
Superman (the superhero)
Also: Man of Steel
📝 In Action
De pequeño, siempre me disfrazaba de Superman para Halloween.
A2When I was little, I always dressed up as Superman for Halloween.
La película de Superman fue un éxito de taquilla mundial.
B1The Superman movie was a worldwide box office hit.
superman
Also: wonder worker, superstar
📝 In Action
No puedo creer lo rápido que arregló el coche; es un verdadero superman.
B1I can't believe how fast he fixed the car; he's a real superman.
Mi madre es una superman en la oficina, maneja tres proyectos a la vez.
B2My mother is a superman at the office; she manages three projects at once.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: superman
Question 1 of 2
¿Cuál es el mejor sinónimo para describir a una persona que es un 'superman' en su trabajo?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Directly borrowed from the English name 'Superman,' created in 1938. The concept of a 'super-man' was popularized philosophically by Friedrich Nietzsche's 'Übermensch' (Overman) in the 19th century, referring to a superior, self-mastered individual.
First recorded: Mid-20th century (in Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
¿Debo usar 'superman' o 'supermán'?
Both are acceptable. 'Superman' (without the accent) is the original English spelling and is very common. 'Supermán' (with the accent on the 'a') is the version recommended by the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) to follow Spanish spelling rules, but you will hear and see the unaccented version most often.
¿Se puede usar 'superman' para referirse a una mujer?
Yes, but it's less common. You can use 'ella es un superman' to describe a highly capable woman, but many speakers prefer the Spanish equivalent 'supermujer' (superwoman) or simply use descriptive adjectives like 'increíble' or 'talentosa'.