torre
“torre” means “tower” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
tower
Also: spire, high-rise building
📝 In Action
La Torre de Pisa se está inclinando.
A1The Tower of Pisa is leaning.
Hay una torre de vigilancia en la entrada del puerto.
A2There is a watchtower at the entrance to the port.
Desde lo alto de la torre se puede ver toda la ciudad.
A1From the top of the tower, you can see the whole city.
rook
📝 In Action
Movió la torre para defender al rey.
B1He moved the rook to defend the king.
La torre es la pieza más fuerte después de la reina.
B2The rook is the strongest piece after the queen.
tower
📝 In Action
La torre de mi computadora es demasiado grande para mi escritorio.
B2My computer tower is too big for my desk.
Hay que limpiar el polvo dentro de la torre para que no se sobrecaliente.
C1You have to clean the dust inside the computer tower so it doesn't overheat.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: torre
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'torre' in its meaning as a piece in a game?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word *turris*, which means 'tower' or 'fortress.' This shared Latin root is why the Spanish word looks and sounds so similar to the English 'tower.'
First recorded: Documented in Spanish texts since the early Middle Ages (around the 13th century).
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
¿Por qué 'torre' es femenino?
La palabra 'torre' es femenina ('la torre') porque su raíz en latín, *turris*, también era femenina. Even though many Spanish words ending in -e are masculine, 'torre' follows the gender of its original Latin form.
If I see a tall office building, should I call it 'torre'?
Yes, you can! While 'rascacielos' (skyscraper) is more specific for very tall modern buildings, 'torre' is often used as a general term for any large, tall structure, like 'la Torre Mayor' (a famous skyscraper in Mexico City).