A storybook illustration of two runners in a footrace. One runner is significantly ahead of the other runner on a track, illustrating a clear advantage.

ventaja

ben-TAH-hah

nounfA2

advantage?general benefit or superiority,benefit?positive outcome

Also:lead?in a competition or score

📝 In Action

Estudiar en el extranjero te da una gran **ventaja** profesional.

Studying abroad gives you a big professional advantage.

Con el gol, el equipo local tomó la **ventaja** de dos a uno.

With the goal, the home team took the two-to-one lead.

La principal **ventaja** de este método es su simplicidad.

The main benefit of this method is its simplicity.

Word Connections

Synonyms

beneficio (benefit)
provecho (profit, gain)
superioridad (superiority)

Antonyms

desventaja (disadvantage)
obstáculo (obstacle)

Common Collocations

sacar ventaja – to gain/get an advantage
llevar la ventaja – to have the lead
aprovechar la ventaja – to make the most of the advantage

💡 Grammar Points

Feminine Article

Ventaja is always feminine, so you must use 'la' or 'una' before it: 'la ventaja' (the advantage), 'una ventaja' (an advantage).

The phrase 'Sacar Ventaja'

This is the most common way to say 'to gain an advantage' or 'to take advantage' (often in a competitive or neutral sense).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gender Confusion

Mistake: "El ventaja"

Correction: La ventaja. Even though some masculine words end in -a (like *problema*), *ventaja* follows the standard rule and is feminine.

⭐ Usage Tips

Context of 'Lead'

When talking about a score or position in a race, ventaja is used to mean 'lead' or 'margin': 'una ventaja de 5 puntos' (a 5-point lead).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: ventaja

Question 1 of 2

Which phrase correctly means 'to gain an advantage'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

desventaja(disadvantage) - noun

ventajoso(advantageous) - adjective

aventajar(to surpass or be ahead of) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I say 'take advantage of' in a positive, beneficial way?

While 'tomar ventaja' exists, for positive uses (like taking advantage of an opportunity), it's much better to use the verb *aprovechar*. For example: 'Aprovecha la oportunidad' (Take advantage of the opportunity).

Is 'ventaja' related to 'viento' (wind)?

No, they look similar but have different origins. *Ventaja* comes from roots meaning 'in front' or 'forward,' while *viento* (wind) comes from the Latin word *ventus*.