Inklingo

How to Say "lead" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “lead” is “ventaja” — use 'ventaja' when referring to a general advantage or a lead in a score or competition..

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ventaja

/ben-TAH-hah//benˈta.xa/

nounA2general
Use 'ventaja' when referring to a general advantage or a lead in a score or competition.
A storybook illustration of two runners in a footrace. One runner is significantly ahead of the other runner on a track, illustrating a clear advantage.

Examples

El equipo local tomó una clara ventaja en el primer tiempo.

The home team took a clear lead in the first half.

Estudiar en el extranjero te da una gran **ventaja** profesional.

Studying abroad gives you a big professional advantage.

Con el gol, el equipo local tomó la **ventaja** de dos a uno.

With the goal, the home team took the two-to-one lead.

La principal **ventaja** de este método es su simplicidad.

The main benefit of this method is its simplicity.

Feminine Article

Ventaja is always feminine, so you must use 'la' or 'una' before it: 'la ventaja' (the advantage), 'una ventaja' (an advantage).

The phrase 'Sacar Ventaja'

This is the most common way to say 'to gain an advantage' or 'to take advantage' (often in a competitive or neutral sense).

Gender Confusion

Mistake: “El ventaja”

Correction: La ventaja. Even though some masculine words end in -a (like *problema*), *ventaja* follows the standard rule and is feminine.

delantera

deh-lahn-TEH-rah/de.lanˈte.ɾa/

nounB1general
Use 'delantera' specifically for the leading position or advantage in a race or competition, often implying being ahead physically.
A simplified illustration of two runners on a track, where the runner in the front has a significant distance advantage over the runner behind.

Examples

El corredor se mantuvo en la delantera durante toda la carrera.

The runner stayed in the lead throughout the entire race.

El ciclista logró tomar la delantera en la montaña.

The cyclist managed to take the lead on the mountain.

El partido político lleva la delantera en las encuestas.

The political party holds the lead in the polls.

Action Phrases

You will almost always see 'delantera' used with verbs like tomar (to take) or llevar (to carry/hold) when talking about being ahead in a competition.

lleven

YEH-vehn/ˈʎe.βen/

verbB1general
Use 'lleven' (from 'llevar') when 'lead' means to guide, take, or escort someone to a place.
A simplified, cheerful yellow car driving down a road. Two people are visible as passengers inside the car, illustrating the act of transporting people.

Examples

Por favor, lleven a los niños al parque después de la escuela.

Please, take the children to the park after school.

Sugiero que lleven a la abuela al médico mañana.

I suggest that they take Grandma to the doctor tomorrow.

Lleven estos turistas al centro de la ciudad.

Take these tourists to the city center. (Formal plural command)

The Subjunctive and Influence

When a sentence starts with a verb of influence (like 'sugiero que' or 'pido que'), the action performed by the other people ('they' or 'you plural') must use the special verb form, 'lleven'.

plomo

/PLOH-moh//ˈplomo/

nounB1general
Use 'plomo' when referring to the chemical element lead, a heavy, toxic metal.
A heavy, solid grey metallic block resting on a wooden surface.

Examples

Las tuberías antiguas a menudo estaban hechas de plomo.

Old pipes were often made of lead.

El plomo es un metal muy pesado.

Lead is a very heavy metal.

Necesito un plomo más grande para que el anzuelo baje al fondo.

I need a bigger sinker so the hook goes to the bottom.

Masculine Noun

This word is masculine. Always use 'el' or 'un' with it (el plomo).

pista

/PEES-tah//ˈpis.ta/

nounA2general
Use 'pista' when 'lead' refers to a clue or hint, especially in the context of an investigation or solving a mystery.
A magnifying glass hovering over a distinct, muddy footprint on a wooden floor, representing a clue.

Examples

La policía está buscando una pista sobre el paradero del sospechoso.

The police are looking for a lead on the suspect's whereabouts.

No sé la respuesta, ¿puedes darme una pista?

I don't know the answer, can you give me a hint?

La policía no tiene pistas sobre el robo.

The police have no leads on the robbery.

Seguimos la pista de las huellas en la nieve.

We followed the trail of the footprints in the snow.

mina

MEE-nah/ˈmina/

nounA2informal
Use 'mina' specifically for the graphite core inside a mechanical pencil or a traditional pencil.
A simple illustration showing several small, cylindrical sticks of black pencil lead (graphite refills).

Examples

Necesito comprar una mina nueva para mi lápiz mecánico.

I need to buy a new lead for my mechanical pencil.

Se me acabó la mina del portaminas.

I ran out of lead in my mechanical pencil.

Necesitas comprar minas más gruesas para dibujar.

You need to buy thicker leads for drawing.

Lead vs. Pencil

Mistake: “Using 'lápiz' when you mean 'mina'.”

Correction: A 'lápiz' is the whole pencil; the 'mina' is just the graphite inside, often for a mechanical pencil ('portaminas').

Lead in Competition vs. Lead as a Clue

Learners often confuse 'ventaja'/'delantera' (lead in a competition) with 'pista' (a clue or lead in an investigation). Remember that 'ventaja' and 'delantera' refer to being ahead, while 'pista' is a piece of information to help solve something.

Related Translations

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