Inklingo

How to Say "range" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “range” is “alcance” — use 'alcance' when referring to the physical distance something can reach or is within reach of, like a person's grasp or a weapon's effectiveness..

alcance🔊A2

Use 'alcance' when referring to the physical distance something can reach or is within reach of, like a person's grasp or a weapon's effectiveness.

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rango🔊B2

Use 'rango' when discussing a scope, extent, or a specific set of measurable values, such as temperature, prices, or skill levels.

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cobertura🔊A2

Choose 'cobertura' when talking about the area where a service like mobile signal or Wi-Fi is available.

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escala🔊A2

Use 'escala' when referring to a series of values, a scale on a map, or a musical scale.

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colecciónA1

Use 'colección' when referring to a variety or assortment of items, especially in fashion or a curated group of objects.

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radio🔊B1

Use 'radio' to indicate the area of influence, operation, or the radius of a circle or sphere.

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tiros🔊B2

Use the idiomatic expression 'a tiro de...' to describe a very short distance, often translated as 'a stone's throw away'.

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English → Spanish

alcance

ahl-KAHN-seh/alˈkance/

nounA2general
Use 'alcance' when referring to the physical distance something can reach or is within reach of, like a person's grasp or a weapon's effectiveness.
A small child standing on tiptoes, stretching their hand out toward a brightly colored, high shelf containing a single toy, demonstrating the limit of their reach.

Examples

El control remoto no tiene suficiente alcance para llegar al sofá.

The remote control doesn't have enough range to reach the sofa.

El libro está en el estante de arriba, fuera de mi alcance.

The book is on the top shelf, out of my reach.

La decisión del gobierno tiene un gran alcance nacional.

The government's decision has a great national scope/impact.

La señal de Wi-Fi tiene un alcance muy limitado en esta zona.

The Wi-Fi signal has a very limited range in this area.

Using Prepositions with Alcance

You almost always use 'al alcance de' (within reach of) or 'fuera de alcance' (out of reach).

Confusing Alcance (Noun) and Alcanzar (Verb)

Mistake: “Using 'el alcanzar' when you mean 'the reach' (el alcance).”

Correction: Remember 'alcance' is the thing (the distance/scope), and 'alcanzar' is the action (to reach).

rango

RRAHN-goh/ˈraŋ.ɡo/

nounB2general
Use 'rango' when discussing a scope, extent, or a specific set of measurable values, such as temperature, prices, or skill levels.
A single, colorful arching arrow spans a wide distance between a defined starting point and an ending point on a flat plane, illustrating extent.

Examples

El rango de precios de los hoteles varía mucho en esta ciudad.

The price range of hotels varies a lot in this city.

El rango de temperatura ideal para esta planta es entre 15 y 25 grados.

The ideal temperature range for this plant is between 15 and 25 degrees.

Esta radio tiene un rango de recepción muy amplio.

This radio has a very wide reception range.

Los datos caen en el rango esperado.

The data falls within the expected range.

Prepositions with Rango

When specifying the limits of a range, use 'entre... y...' (between... and...) or 'desde... hasta...' (from... to...).

cobertura

koh-behr-TOO-rah/koβeɾˈtuɾa/

nounA2general
Choose 'cobertura' when talking about the area where a service like mobile signal or Wi-Fi is available.
A tall, simple cellular tower emitting bright green signal waves that clearly reach a small, stylized mobile phone in the distance.

Examples

La cobertura de la red es excelente en esta zona rural.

The network coverage is excellent in this rural area.

¿Hay buena cobertura de móvil aquí?

Is there good mobile coverage here?

Perdí la cobertura justo al entrar al túnel.

I lost signal (the coverage) right as I entered the tunnel.

Feminine Noun Rule

'Cobertura' is always feminine, so you must use 'la cobertura' or 'una cobertura' and feminine adjectives, like 'cobertura buena'.

escala

/es-KAH-lah//esˈka.la/

nounA2general
Use 'escala' when referring to a series of values, a scale on a map, or a musical scale.
A massive green tree standing next to a tiny, identical miniature model of the tree, illustrating a size ratio.

Examples

La escala de este mapa es 1:100,000.

The scale of this map is 1:100,000.

La escala del mapa es de uno a diez mil.

The scale of the map is one to ten thousand.

Necesitamos medir la temperatura en la escala Celsius.

We need to measure the temperature on the Celsius scale.

Always Feminine

Remember that 'escala' is always a feminine noun, so you must use 'la escala' or 'una escala' before it.

colección

nounA1general
Use 'colección' when referring to a variety or assortment of items, especially in fashion or a curated group of objects.

Examples

La nueva colección de ropa de verano ya está en las tiendas.

The new summer clothing collection is already in stores.

radio

/RA-dyo//ˈra.ðjo/

nounB1general
Use 'radio' to indicate the area of influence, operation, or the radius of a circle or sphere.
A large, brightly colored circle with a line segment drawn from its center point to the edge.

Examples

El radio de acción del nuevo dron es de 5 kilómetros.

The operational range (radius of action) of the new drone is 5 kilometers.

El radio de la Tierra es de aproximadamente 6,371 kilómetros.

The Earth's radius is approximately 6,371 kilometers.

Necesitamos un círculo con un radio de cinco centímetros.

We need a circle with a radius of five centimeters.

La antena wifi tiene un radio de alcance de 20 metros.

The Wi-Fi antenna has a range of 20 meters.

The Masculine Version

When 'radio' means radius, spoke, or range, it's a boy! So you use 'el radio' or 'un radio'. This is the complete opposite of the broadcast meaning.

Mixing up the Genders

Mistake: “Calcula *la radio* del círculo.”

Correction: Calcula *el radio* del círculo. For math and science topics, think masculine ('el').

tiros

/TEE-rohs//ˈti.ɾos/

nounB2idiomatic
Use the idiomatic expression 'a tiro de...' to describe a very short distance, often translated as 'a stone's throw away'.
A vast, empty landscape illustrating a long, measurable distance, stretching from the foreground viewer toward a tiny, distant object on the horizon.

Examples

La playa está a un tiro de piedra de nuestro hotel.

The beach is a stone's throw away from our hotel.

Vivimos a un tiro de piedra del mar.

We live a stone's throw away from the sea (very close).

Esa oportunidad estuvo a tiros de ser nuestra.

That opportunity was within striking distance of being ours.

Alcance vs. Rango

The most common confusion is between 'alcance' and 'rango'. Remember that 'alcance' relates to physical reach or a device's reach, while 'rango' refers to a spectrum of values or a scope.

Related Translations

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