tipo
“tipo” means “type” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
type, kindAlso: sort
📝 In Action
¿Qué tipo de comida te gusta?
A1What type of food do you like?
No me gusta este tipo de película.
A2I don't like this kind of movie.
Hay muchos tipos de animales en la selva.
B1There are many types of animals in the jungle.
Word Connections
guyAlso: dude, bloke, chap
📝 In Action
Vi a un tipo extraño en la calle.
A2I saw a strange guy on the street.
¿Conoces a ese tipo de allá?
B1Do you know that guy over there?
El tipo de la tienda fue muy amable.
B1The guy from the store was very nice.
Word Connections
rateAlso: type
📝 In Action
El banco central subió el tipo de interés.
B2The central bank raised the interest rate.
¿Cuál es el tipo de cambio entre el euro y el dólar?
B2What is the exchange rate between the euro and the dollar?
Necesito cambiar el tipo de letra en este documento.
B1I need to change the font type in this document.
Word Connections
I print, I standardize
📝 In Action
Yo tipo los documentos oficiales según la nueva normativa.
C1I standardize the official documents according to the new regulations.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
🔀 Commonly Confused With
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: tipo
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence uses 'tipo' to mean 'guy'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology
Comes from the Latin word 'typus', which itself came from the Greek 'týpos' (τύπος), meaning 'mark', 'impression', or 'model'. You can see the connection to all its meanings: a 'type' of thing is a model, a printing 'type' makes an impression, and a 'guy' is a certain type of person.
First recorded: Early 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'tipo' and 'clase'?
They are often interchangeable for 'kind' or 'type'. 'Clase' can sometimes feel a bit more formal or scientific, like 'clase de animal' (class of animal). 'Tipo' is extremely common and flexible in everyday conversation. When in doubt, 'tipo' is usually a safe bet.
Is it rude to call someone a 'tipo'?
It's not necessarily rude, but it is informal and impersonal. You use it to talk about a man you don't know or to refer to someone neutrally. For example, 'el tipo que arregló el internet' (the guy who fixed the internet). You wouldn't use it for your close friend or your boss.
Can I use 'tipo' for things and animals, not just people?
Yes, absolutely! The meaning 'type' or 'kind' works for everything: 'un tipo de planta' (a type of plant), 'ese tipo de problema' (that type of problem), 'otro tipo de perro' (another type of dog).