zona
“zona” means “area” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
area, zone
Also: region, district
📝 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.
area, region
Also: section
📝 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.
zone, area
📝 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.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: zona
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'zona' to talk about a part of the body?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'zōna', which itself came from the Greek 'ζώνη' (zṓnē), meaning 'belt' or 'girdle'. The idea evolved from something that encircles (like a belt) to a defined band or area of land.
First recorded: Early 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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.