éxito
“éxito” means “success” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
success
Also: accomplishment, triumph
📝 In Action
La conferencia fue un gran éxito.
A2The conference was a great success.
Le deseo mucho éxito en su nuevo trabajo.
B1I wish you much success in your new job.
El éxito del proyecto depende de todos nosotros.
B1The project's success depends on all of us.
hit
Also: smash hit, bestseller
📝 In Action
Esa canción fue el mayor éxito del verano.
B1That song was the biggest hit of the summer.
El nuevo libro del autor es un éxito de ventas.
B2The author's new book is a bestseller.
La banda tiene muchos éxitos en su repertorio.
B1The band has many hits in its repertoire.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: éxito
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly says 'The singer is very successful'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'exitus', which meant 'a going out' or 'departure'. Over time, it came to mean the 'outcome' or 'result' of something, and eventually, a *good* outcome or result.
First recorded: 18th century (with modern meaning)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'éxito' and 'exitoso'?
'Éxito' is the 'thing'—the success itself (a noun). 'Exitoso' is the description of someone or something that has success (an adjective). For example, 'El proyecto fue un éxito' (The project was a success) vs. 'Fue un proyecto exitoso' (It was a successful project).
Can I use 'éxito' to mean 'exit' like in English?
No, this is a classic 'false friend'! Although they come from the same Latin root, 'éxito' always means 'success'. The Spanish word for 'exit' is 'salida'.