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How to Say "soul" in Spanish

English → Spanish

alma

/al-mah//ˈalma/

NounB1General
Use 'alma' when referring to the spiritual or non-physical essence of a person, or when talking about the absence of people.
A simple silhouette of a human figure standing. Inside the figure's outline, a bright, warm yellow light is swirling and radiating, symbolizing the spiritual soul.

Examples

Creen que el alma es inmortal.

They believe the soul is immortal.

Puso toda su alma y corazón en el proyecto.

He put his whole heart and soul into the project.

Es una persona con un alma muy noble.

She is a person with a very noble soul.

No había ni un alma en la calle.

There wasn't a single soul on the street.

The Tricky Article 'el'

Alma is a feminine word, but we say el alma instead of la alma. This happens with feminine words that start with a stressed 'a' sound to avoid the two 'a' sounds running together. When you add a word in between or an adjective after, you use the normal feminine form: una buena alma (a good soul) or el alma pura (the pure soul).

Using 'la' instead of 'el'

Mistake: “La alma es invisible.”

Correction: El alma es invisible. Remember, even though 'alma' is feminine, we use 'el' right before it because it starts with that stressed 'a' sound.

espíritu

NounB1General
Use 'espíritu' to refer to the inner self or a person's core being, often in contrast to the physical body.

Examples

Dicen que el cuerpo muere, pero el espíritu es eterno.

They say the body dies, but the spirit is eternal.

sabor

/sah-BOAR//saˈβoɾ/

NounB1Figurative
Use 'sabor' metaphorically to describe the characteristic style or essence of something, like music or food.
A collection of plain gray stones, with one central stone radiating a strong, unique golden light, symbolizing its unique essence.

Examples

Esa canción tiene mucho sabor a los años 80.

That song has a lot of the feel/style of the 80s.

El festival le dio un sabor especial a la ciudad.

The festival gave a special character/vibe to the city.

La novela carece de sabor humano.

The novel lacks human essence/soul.

Using 'Sabor' Figuratively

When 'sabor' is used to describe a non-physical quality, it often means 'the feeling' or 'the spirit' of something. Think of it as the 'taste' of a mood or style.

interior

een-teh-ryor/in.teˈɾjoɾ/

NounB2Poetic/Spiritual
Use 'interior' to refer to one's inner self, conscience, or innermost feelings, often in a poetic or spiritual context.
A simple silhouette of a human head and shoulders, shown in profile. Inside the chest cavity, a brightly glowing, warm yellow light source is visible, symbolizing the inner self.

Examples

Debes escuchar lo que dice tu interior.

You must listen to what your inner self says.

Su alegría venía de lo más profundo de su interior.

Her joy came from the deepest part of her being.

Abstract Usage

This meaning refers to an abstract mental or emotional space, often used with verbs related to reflection, feeling, or struggle.

Alma vs. Espíritu

Learners often confuse 'alma' and 'espíritu'. Remember that 'alma' is the primary translation for the spiritual essence or a person's presence, while 'espíritu' is more about the inner self or a person's animating force, often contrasted with the physical body.

Related Translations

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