área
/AH-reh-ah/
area
When referring to a physical or geographical space, área translates to 'area.'
área(noun)
area
?physical or geographical space
,zone
?designated space
region
?larger geographical space
📝 In Action
Esta área es muy segura para caminar de noche.
A2This area is very safe to walk in at night.
Necesitamos limpiar el área de trabajo antes de irnos.
A1We need to clean the work area before we leave.
El área metropolitana tiene mucha población.
B1The metropolitan area has a large population.
💡 Grammar Points
The Stress Rule for Feminine Nouns
Even though 'área' is a feminine word (meaning it uses 'la' and feminine adjectives), in the singular form, we use the masculine article 'el' ('el área') to make the pronunciation smoother, since the word starts with a stressed 'a' sound. Think of it as a phonetic fix, not a gender change!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender Confusion
Mistake: "La área grande. (Using 'la' in singular.)"
Correction: El área grande. (Use 'el' in singular, but the adjective 'grande' is still feminine/neutral.)
Plural Articles
Mistake: "Los áreas. (Using 'los' in plural.)"
Correction: Las áreas. (In plural, we revert to the feminine article 'las' because the vowel clash is gone.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Adjective Agreement
Remember, the word 'área' is always feminine. Even when you say 'el área,' any adjective you use must be feminine: 'el área peligrosa' (the dangerous area).
When referring to a specialization or discipline, área translates to 'field.'
área(noun)
field
?specialization or discipline
,domain
?scope of responsibility
department
?in a business or university
📝 In Action
Ella trabaja en el área de recursos humanos.
B1She works in the Human Resources department/area.
La investigación cubre el área de la inteligencia artificial.
B2The research covers the field of artificial intelligence.
Cada empleado es responsable de su propia área.
B1Each employee is responsible for their own domain/area.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Contexts
This meaning is often used instead of 'departamento' (department) in universities or companies to sound slightly more formal or technical, especially when referring to a broad skill set.
In soccer, the área is the penalty area or penalty box.
área(noun)
penalty area
?soccer/football
,box
?goal area in hockey/soccer
goal box
?soccer/football
📝 In Action
El árbitro pitó penalti dentro del área.
B2The referee called a penalty inside the box (penalty area).
Defienden bien su área, no hay espacios.
B2They defend their box well; there are no gaps.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
When talking about sports, especially soccer, simply saying 'el área' always refers to the large rectangular zone where the goalkeeper operates.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: área
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the article for the noun 'área'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'área' a masculine or feminine word?
It is a feminine word. We know this because any descriptive words (adjectives) must be feminine ('el área pequeña'). However, when it is singular, it uses the masculine article 'el' ('el área') to prevent the sound clash that would happen with 'la área.'
Why does the word 'área' have an accent mark?
The accent mark indicates where the stress falls when you say the word. Spanish words ending in a vowel usually stress the second-to-last syllable, but 'área' stresses the third-to-last (Á-re-a), making the accent necessary to show this exception.