Inklingo

How to Say "origins" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “origins” is “fuentes” — use 'fuentes' when referring to the starting point, source, or origin of information, data, or research.

fuentesB1

Use 'fuentes' when referring to the starting point, source, or origin of information, data, or research.

Learn more →
raícesB1

Use 'raíces' when talking about the origin or base of a culture, tradition, family, or identity.

Learn more →
English → Spanish

fuentes

FWEHN-tehsˈfwen̪tes

nounB1general
Use 'fuentes' when referring to the starting point, source, or origin of information, data, or research.
A tiny stream of water bubbling up from mossy rocks, illustrating the origin or source of a river.

Examples

Debes citar las fuentes de información en tu ensayo.

You must cite the sources of information in your essay.

Están buscando nuevas fuentes de energía renovable.

They are looking for new sources of renewable energy.

Connecting to the Noun

When talking about the source of something, you almost always use the preposition 'de': 'fuentes de ingresos' (sources of income).

raíces

nounB1general
Use 'raíces' when talking about the origin or base of a culture, tradition, family, or identity.

Examples

Ella está orgullosa de sus raíces mexicanas.

She is proud of her Mexican roots.

Information vs. Cultural Roots

Learners often confuse 'fuentes' and 'raíces' by using 'fuentes' for cultural origins or 'raíces' for information sources. Remember: 'fuentes' is for where information comes from, while 'raíces' is for where a person or culture comes from.

Related Translations

dishesfontsfountainsplattersresourcessourcesspringstrays

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