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How to Say "diamonds" in Spanish

English → Spanish

diamantes

dee-ah-MAHN-tays/djaˈmantes/

nounB1general
Use 'diamantes' when referring to diamonds as precious stones, as part of jewelry, or in a more general, valuable context.
A close-up view of three brilliant-cut diamonds, showing their facets catching the light and sparkling against a simple background.

Examples

Ella heredó un collar con incrustaciones de diamantes muy grandes.

She inherited a necklace encrusted with very large diamonds.

Necesitas más diamantes en tu mano para ganar la partida.

You need more diamonds in your hand to win the game (of cards).

Los diamantes son los minerales más duros conocidos.

Diamonds are the hardest known minerals.

Plural Noun Rule

Since the singular word 'diamante' ends in a vowel ('e'), you form the plural by simply adding '-s' to the end.

Gender Confusion

Mistake: “La diamante”

Correction: El diamante (singular) or Los diamantes (plural). Even though it ends in '-e', it is a masculine word.

brillantes

bree-YAHN-tehs/bɾiˈʎantes/

nounB1general
Use 'brillantes' specifically for cut gemstones, often implying smaller stones used for decoration, like those on a piece of clothing or in intricate settings.
A small pile of three simple, clear, faceted gemstones (diamonds) sparkling brightly.

Examples

El collar estaba adornado con pequeños brillantes.

The necklace was adorned with small diamonds.

El joyero mostró los brillantes más grandes que tenía.

The jeweler showed the largest jewels (diamonds) he had.

Noun vs. Adjective

When used as a noun, 'brillantes' refers specifically to the precious stones. When used as an adjective, it describes the quality of shining (e.g., 'zapatos brillantes' - shiny shoes).

Diamantes vs. Brillantes

The most common mistake is using 'brillantes' for all types of diamonds. Remember that 'diamantes' is the broader term for the precious stone, while 'brillantes' often refers to the cut stones themselves, especially when used decoratively.

Related Translations

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