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urna

OOR-nah/ˈuɾna/

“urna” means “ballot box” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

ballot box

Also: voter box
NounfB1
A simple wooden box with a slot on top and a white paper being dropped into it.

📝 In Action

Los ciudadanos depositan sus votos en la urna.

A2

Citizens place their votes in the ballot box.

Al final del día, el juez abrió la urna para contar los papeles.

B1

At the end of the day, the judge opened the ballot box to count the papers.

Había más de mil sobres dentro de la urna electoral.

B1

There were more than a thousand envelopes inside the electoral ballot box.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • caja electoral (voting box)

Common Collocations

  • urna electoral – ballot box
  • llamar a las urnas – to call for an election / to call voters to the polls
  • pie de urna – exit poll

Idioms & Expressions

  • pasar por las urnas – to hold an election or to vote

urn

Also: glass case / display case
NounfB2
A decorative ceramic jar with a lid sitting on a wooden table.

📝 In Action

La familia guardó las cenizas en una urna de mármol.

B1

The family kept the ashes in a marble urn.

El collar antiguo se exhibe en una urna de cristal.

B2

The ancient necklace is displayed in a glass case.

La urna contenía los restos del santo.

C1

The casket/case contained the remains of the saint.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • vitrina (display case)
  • vaso (vessel (historical))

Common Collocations

  • urna funeraria – funerary urn
  • urna de cristal – glass display case
  • urna cineraria – cinerary urn (for ashes)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "urna" in Spanish:

ballot box→urn→voter box→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: urna

Question 1 of 3

What is the correct way to say 'the ballot box'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
urnita(small urn/ballot box) — Noun
urnario(place for funerary urns) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'urna', which referred to a water jar or a vessel used to collect votes or ashes.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: urnItalian: urnaFrench: urne

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'urna' change to 'el' like 'el agua'?

No. The rule for changing 'la' to 'el' only applies to words starting with a stressed 'a' or 'ha' (like agua or hambre). Since 'urna' starts with a 'u', it remains 'la urna'.

Is an 'urna' the same as a regular 'caja' (box)?

Not exactly. A 'caja' is a general box for storage. An 'urna' is specifically for special purposes like voting, holding ashes, or displaying items in a museum.

How do you say 'the polls' in Spanish?

You often use the plural 'las urnas'. For example, 'Los ciudadanos acuden a las urnas' means 'Citizens are going to the polls'.