How to Say "hero" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “hero” is “héroe” — use 'héroe' when referring to someone who has performed an act of great bravery or is admired for their courage, or when talking about the main character of a story..
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héroe
nounA2general
Use 'héroe' when referring to someone who has performed an act of great bravery or is admired for their courage, or when talking about the main character of a story.
Examples
El bombero fue un héroe al salvar a la familia del incendio.
The firefighter was a hero for saving the family from the fire.
héroe
nounB1general
Use 'héroe' when referring to the main character or protagonist in a fictional work like a book or movie.
Examples
El héroe de la novela tuvo que viajar a tierras lejanas.
The hero of the novel had to travel to distant lands.
ídolo
nounA2general
Use 'ídolo' when referring to someone who is greatly admired and seen as a role model, especially a famous person like an athlete or artist.
Examples
Lionel Messi es el ídolo de millones de niños.
Lionel Messi is the idol of millions of children.
Héroe vs. Ídolo
Learners often confuse 'héroe' and 'ídolo'. Remember that 'héroe' is for bravery or a story's protagonist, while 'ídolo' specifically refers to a role model or someone widely admired for their achievements.
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