Inklingo

How to Say "width" in Spanish

English → Spanish

ancho

AHN-choˈantʃo

nounA2general
Use 'ancho' when referring to the general horizontal measurement or dimension of an object, like a door or a table.
A wide wooden bridge crossing a small blue stream.

Examples

¿Cuál es el ancho de la puerta?

What is the width of the door?

amplitud

ahm-plee-toodampliˈtuð

nounB1general
Choose 'amplitud' when describing the spaciousness or breadth of an area, often implying a sense of openness or roominess.
A bright, open living room with high ceilings and large windows showing a vast landscape.

Examples

Me encanta la amplitud de este salón; entra mucha luz.

I love the spaciousness of this living room; a lot of light comes in.

Debemos medir la amplitud de la entrada para ver si cabe el sofá.

We must measure the width of the entrance to see if the sofa fits.

La amplitud del valle era impresionante desde la cima.

The vastness of the valley was impressive from the summit.

Nouns ending in -tud

Words that end in '-tud' in Spanish, like 'amplitud', 'libertad', or 'gratitud', are almost always feminine. You should always use 'la' or 'una' with them.

Using 'amplitud' for space

While 'ancho' describes how wide something is, 'amplitud' describes the feeling of having a lot of room or space.

Gender confusion

Mistake: “El amplitud de la casa.”

Correction: La amplitud de la casa. (Because nouns ending in -tud are feminine).

diámetro

nounB1informal
Use 'diámetro' specifically when referring to the width of round or cylindrical objects, such as pipes or circles.

Examples

El círculo tiene un diámetro de cinco centímetros.

The circle has a diameter of five centimeters.

latitud

la-tee-toodla.tiˈtuð

nounB1technical/archaic
Only use 'latitud' for 'width' in very specific, often technical or archaic contexts, relating to geographical breadth or position.
A colorful globe showing horizontal lines encircling it from the equator to the poles.

Examples

Madrid y Nueva York están casi en la misma latitud.

Madrid and New York are almost at the same latitude.

La latitud se mide en grados de norte a sur.

Latitude is measured in degrees from north to south.

Necesitamos conocer la latitud exacta para encontrar el barco.

We need to know the exact latitude to find the boat.

Always Feminine

Words ending in '-tud' are always feminine in Spanish. Use 'la' and 'una' with this word.

Comparing with Longitude

Just like in English, 'latitud' (horizontal lines) is often paired with 'longitud' (vertical lines) to give a specific location.

Confusing with Altitude

Mistake: “Usar 'latitud' para hablar de la altura de una montaña.”

Correction: Use 'altitud' for height above sea level; 'latitud' is only for your position on the map.

Choosing between 'ancho' and 'amplitud'

Learners often confuse 'ancho' and 'amplitud'. Remember that 'ancho' is for a specific measurement of an object, while 'amplitud' describes the spaciousness of an area.

Related Translations

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