zona
/SO-na/
area
This image represents 'zona' as a geographical area or region.
zona(Noun)
area
?A general space or part of a city/country
,zone
?A specific, officially defined area
region
?A larger geographical area
,district
?A part of a city with a specific character
📝 In Action
Vivo en una zona muy tranquila de la ciudad.
A2I live in a very quiet area of the city.
Esta es una zona peatonal, no se permiten coches.
B1This is a pedestrian zone, cars are not allowed.
La zona comercial cierra a las nueve de la noche.
B1The commercial district closes at nine at night.
Es una zona de España famosa por sus vinos.
B2It's a region of Spain famous for its wines.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine: 'la zona'
Even though it doesn't end in '-a' like many feminine words, 'zona' is always feminine. So, you'll always use words like 'la', 'una', 'esta', or 'mucha' with it. For example: 'la zona bonita' (the pretty area).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'el' instead of 'la'
Mistake: "Fui a el zona comercial."
Correction: Fui a la zona comercial. Remember that 'zona' is a feminine word, so it needs 'la' not 'el'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Your Go-To Word for Any Defined Space
'Zona' is incredibly versatile. You can use it for a tiny section of a room, a neighborhood in a city, or a huge region of a country. If you can draw a circle around it on a map, you can probably call it a 'zona'.
This image represents 'zona' as a localized area or part of the body or a surface.
zona(Noun)
area
?A part of the body, a field, a surface
,region
?Used in anatomy, e.g., 'lumbar region'
section
?A specific part of a larger whole
📝 In Action
Me duele la zona lumbar de la espalda.
B1The lumbar region of my back hurts.
El portero no puede tocar el balón fuera de su zona.
B1The goalkeeper can't touch the ball outside of his area.
Por favor, limpia la zona afectada con agua y jabón.
B2Please, clean the affected area with soap and water.
⭐ Usage Tips
Think 'Part of a Whole'
This use of 'zona' is perfect for talking about a specific section of a larger thing. It could be a part of your body ('zona abdominal'), a part of a sports field ('zona de penalti'), or a part of a diagram.
This image represents 'zona' in its figurative or abstract sense, such as a 'comfort zone'.
📝 In Action
Para aprender de verdad, tienes que salir de tu zona de confort.
B2To truly learn, you have to get out of your comfort zone.
La legalidad de su propuesta está en una zona gris.
C1The legality of his proposal is in a gray area.
⭐ Usage Tips
For Ideas, Not Just Places
Just like in English, 'zona' isn't limited to physical places. You can use it to talk about abstract situations or psychological states. The phrase 'zona de confort' is used exactly like 'comfort zone'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: zona
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'zona' to talk about a part of the body?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'zona', 'área', and 'región'?
They are very similar and often interchangeable! Think of them in terms of size and specificity. 'Zona' is a great all-purpose word for any defined space, big or small. 'Área' is very similar, maybe slightly more general. 'Región' usually refers to a much larger geographical area, like a part of a country (e.g., 'la región de Andalucía').
Is 'zona' always a feminine word?
Yes, always! It's one of those words you just have to remember is feminine. It's always 'la zona', 'una zona', 'esta zona', etc.
I've heard 'zona' used in a negative way. What does that mean?
In some places, especially in informal conversation, 'zona' can be a shorthand way to refer to a red-light district ('zona de prostitución'). It's a less common, slangy usage, but it's good to be aware of the context.