How to Say "symbol" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “symbol” is “signo” — use 'signo' when referring to a mark, character, or gesture that represents something, especially in writing, mathematics, or as a signal..
English → Spanish
signo
/síng-no//ˈsiɣno/
nounA2general
Use 'signo' when referring to a mark, character, or gesture that represents something, especially in writing, mathematics, or as a signal.
Examples
Siempre olvido dónde va el signo de interrogación.
I always forget where the question mark goes.
El signo de suma es un más (+).
The addition sign is a plus (+).
Necesitas añadir un signo de exclamación al final de esa frase.
You need to add an exclamation mark at the end of that sentence.
Gender Check
Remember that 'signo' is a masculine noun, so you always use 'el signo' or 'un signo'.
símbolo
nounA2general
Use 'símbolo' when referring to an object, image, or concept that represents an abstract idea, quality, or nation.
Examples
La bandera es el símbolo de nuestro país.
The flag is the symbol of our country.
Signo vs. Símbolo
Learners often confuse 'signo' and 'símbolo'. Remember that 'signo' is typically for concrete marks like punctuation or mathematical operators, while 'símbolo' represents deeper ideas or concepts, like a national flag.
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