velo
“velo” means “veil” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
veil
Also: shroud
📝 In Action
La novia eligió un velo de encaje muy largo.
A2The bride chose a very long lace veil.
Ella se cubrió con un velo por respeto.
B1She covered herself with a veil out of respect.
haze, film
Also: blur
📝 In Action
Un velo de niebla cubría la montaña esta mañana.
B2A veil of mist covered the mountain this morning.
Siento un velo en los ojos y no veo bien.
C1I feel a blur over my eyes and I can't see well.
I watch over
Also: I stay awake
📝 In Action
Yo velo por la seguridad de mi familia.
B1I watch over my family's safety.
Esta noche velo al paciente en el hospital.
B2Tonight I am staying awake with the patient at the hospital.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: velo
Question 1 of 2
Which of these is the most likely meaning of 'velo' in the sentence: 'La montaña tiene un velo de nubes'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The noun comes from the Latin 'velum' (a cloth or covering). The verb 'velar' comes from Latin 'vigilare' (to be watchful), though they ended up sounding identical in some forms.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'velo' the same as 'vela'?
No. 'El velo' (masculine) is a veil or haze. 'La vela' (feminine) is a candle or a sail on a boat.
How can I tell if 'velo' is a noun or a verb?
Look at the words around it! If you see 'el' or 'un' before it, it's a noun (the veil). If it follows 'yo' or starts a sentence describing an action, it's likely the verb (I watch over).