volador
“volador” means “flying” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
flying
Also: airborne
📝 In Action
Creen que vieron un platillo volador en el bosque.
B1They believe they saw a flying saucer in the forest.
Me gustaría tener una alfombra voladora.
A2I would like to have a flying carpet.
El pez volador saltó fuera del agua.
B2The flying fish jumped out of the water.
rocket firework
Also: flyer
📝 In Action
Los niños se asustaron con el ruido del volador.
B1The children were scared by the noise of the rocket firework.
Fuimos a ver a los voladores de Papantla en México.
C1We went to see the Papantla flyers in Mexico.
Lanzaron varios voladores para celebrar el fin de las fiestas.
B2They launched several rockets to celebrate the end of the festivities.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: volador
Question 1 of 3
How do you say 'flying saucer' in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin verb 'volare' (to fly). The suffix '-dor' is added in Spanish to mean 'the one who does the action.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'volador' the same as a paper flyer?
No. A paper flyer used for advertising is called a 'volante'. 'Volador' is used for things that actually fly, like fireworks or animals.
Can I use 'volador' for a pilot?
While it literally means 'flyer,' a pilot is usually called 'piloto' or 'aviador.' 'Volador' is more poetic or used for specific cultural rituals.
Why is it sometimes 'volador' and sometimes 'voladora'?
Because it acts as an adjective. If you describe a masculine noun like 'pez' (fish), you use 'volador.' For a feminine noun like 'ardilla' (squirrel), you use 'voladora.'