Inklingo

How to Say "wonder" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “wonder” is “maravilla” — use 'maravilla' to describe something that is exceptionally impressive, astonishing, or amazing, often a physical object or natural phenomenon.

English → Spanish

maravilla

mah-rah-VEE-yahma.ɾaˈβi.ʎa

nounA2general
Use 'maravilla' to describe something that is exceptionally impressive, astonishing, or amazing, often a physical object or natural phenomenon.
A brightly colored illustration of a small child looking up at a large, glowing, floating star in the night sky, their face expressing deep wonder and astonishment.

Examples

La Sagrada Familia es una maravilla arquitectónica.

The Sagrada Familia is an architectural wonder.

El Gran Cañón es una maravilla natural del mundo.

The Grand Canyon is a natural wonder of the world.

Esta nueva aplicación es una maravilla; me ahorra muchísimo tiempo.

This new app is a marvel; it saves me so much time.

Su capacidad para improvisar en el escenario es una maravilla que pocos pueden igualar.

His ability to improvise on stage is a wonder that few can match.

Gender Alert

Even though 'maravilla' ends in '-a', it is a feminine noun, so you must use 'la' or 'una' before it.

Confusing Noun and Adverb

Mistake: “La comida era maravilla. (Incorrect)”

Correction: La comida era una maravilla. OR La comida estaba de maravilla. (Correct). You need the article 'una' or the phrase 'de' to make it sound natural.

milagro

mee-LAH-grohmiˈlaɣɾo

nounA2general
Choose 'milagro' when referring to something truly amazing that seems impossible or inexplicable, often implying divine intervention or a fortunate outcome.
A small, dry, barren tree instantly bursting into vibrant, colorful bloom as a brilliant, ethereal light ray shines down upon it from the sky.

Examples

Su recuperación fue un verdadero milagro.

His recovery was a true miracle.

Dicen que el médico hizo un milagro con la operación.

They say the doctor performed a miracle with the surgery.

La aparición de agua en el desierto fue un milagro para los viajeros.

The appearance of water in the desert was a miracle for the travelers.

Gender Check

Even though 'milagro' ends in 'o', remember it is always masculine, so use 'el milagro' or 'un milagro'.

admiración

nounB1general
Use 'admiración' to express the feeling of respect and awe you have towards a person or their achievements, focusing on the emotion of deep appreciation.

Examples

Siento una gran admiración por su valentía.

I feel great admiration for his bravery.

prodigio

pro-DEE-hyohpɾoˈði.xjo

nounB2formal
Employ 'prodigio' for something extraordinary or exceptional, particularly a remarkable achievement or talent that inspires admiration, often in fields like science or art.
A magnificent, glowing waterfall hidden inside a lush, sparkling forest.

Examples

Ese niño es un prodigio del piano.

That child is a piano prodigy.

Este nuevo puente es un prodigio de la ingeniería moderna.

This new bridge is a marvel of modern engineering.

La vida es un prodigio de la naturaleza que debemos proteger.

Life is a wonder of nature that we must protect.

Fue un prodigio que nadie resultara herido en la tormenta.

It was a miracle that nobody was hurt in the storm.

Describing Objects

When describing an object as a 'prodigio,' we often use 'de la' or 'del' to explain what category it belongs to (e.g., 'prodigio del diseño').

Prodigio vs. Milagro

Mistake: “Using 'prodigio' for strictly religious miracles.”

Correction: While they are similar, 'milagro' is usually for divine acts, while 'prodigio' is for amazing natural or human achievements.

Wonder vs. Admiration

Learners often confuse 'maravilla' (a wondrous thing) with 'admiración' (the feeling of admiration). Remember, 'maravilla' describes the astonishing object or event itself, while 'admiración' describes your internal feeling of awe and respect towards it.

Related Translations

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