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árbol

AHR-bolˈarβol

“árbol” means “tree” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

tree

Also: stock
NounmA1
A single, large, healthy green tree with a thick brown trunk and roots visible, standing on a small grassy hill.

📝 In Action

El parque está lleno de árboles viejos y grandes.

A1

The park is full of old and large trees.

Hay que podar el árbol antes de que llegue el invierno.

A2

We have to prune the tree before winter arrives.

Mi abuelo dibujó nuestro árbol genealógico en papel.

B1

My grandfather drew our family tree on paper.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • subir a un árbol – to climb a tree
  • fruto del árbol – fruit of the tree
  • árbol genealógico – family tree

Idioms & Expressions

  • Árbol que nace torcido, jamás su tronco endereza. – Old habits die hard; what's learned early is hard to change.

shaft, axle

Also: mast
NounmB2formal
A smooth, gray, metallic cylindrical rod, representing a simple mechanical shaft, placed horizontally.

📝 In Action

El motor requiere la reparación del árbol de levas.

B2

The engine requires the repair of the camshaft.

El navío izó la bandera en el árbol principal.

C1

The ship raised the flag on the main mast.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • eje (axis/axle)

Common Collocations

  • árbol de levas – camshaft
  • árbol de transmisión – driveshaft

Vocabulary Collections

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "árbol" in Spanish:

tree→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: árbol

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the word 'árbol'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
arboleda(grove, wooded area) — Noun
arbusto(shrub, bush) — Noun
arbolado(wooded) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes directly from the classical Latin word *arbor* (meaning 'tree'). It is one of the oldest and most stable nouns in the Spanish language, maintaining its masculine gender and core meaning throughout history.

First recorded: Before 10th century (Common Ibero-Romance)

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: alberoFrench: arbrePortuguese: árvore

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'árbol' masculine when many Spanish nouns ending in -l are feminine?

'Árbol' is a historical exception to common rules. It maintains the masculine gender it had in Latin (*arbor* was masculine). You must always say 'el árbol' and never 'la árbol'.

How is 'árbol' different from 'arbusto'?

An 'árbol' is a large plant with a single woody trunk and a crown of leaves, while an 'arbusto' is a bush or shrub—a smaller, shorter plant with multiple woody stems coming from the ground.