Homonyms
What is a homonym in Spanish?
In Spanish, homonyms (las palabras homónimas) are words that are pronounced in the same way but have a different meaning, such as the English there/their or here/hear. Sometimes these words are even written in the same way. Normally we can tell their meaning from the context.
- Examples:
- hay – aythere is/are – oh
- vaya – vallago – fence
- baca - vacaroof rack – cow
—¿Y usted no nada nada?
—No... es que no traje el traje.
Types of homonyms
Homonyms are words that are pronounced in the same way but have a different meaning. In some cases they are also written in the same way, while others have different spellings. This happens because there are several letters in Spanish that are pronounced the same: b–v, h–no h, y–ll.
- Homophones: sound the same.
- Example:
- baca – vacaroof rack – cow
- Homographs: are written the same.
- Example:
- vino (wine) – vino (came, preterite 3rd person singular of the verb venir)
List of Spanish homonyms
Spanish has many homonyms. The most common homonyms in Spanish are summarised in the table below.
Meaning | Homonyms | Meaning | |
---|---|---|---|
(preposition) to (noun) first letter of the alphabet |
a | ah | (interjection) to express surprise |
(interjection) | ay |
hay |
impersonal form of the verb haber (there is/there are) |
(adjective) acerbic, bitter | acerbo | acervo | (noun) heritage |
(verb) learn | aprender | aprehender | (verb) apprehend |
(noun) stream | arroyo | arrollo | (verb) present 1st person singular of arrollar, knock down |
(noun) ace in a deck of cards | as | has | (verb) present 2nd person singular of the verb haber |
(noun) luggage rack | baca | vaca | (noun) cow |
(noun) bank (noun) shoal of fish |
banco |
banco |
(noun) bench |
(noun) baron | barón | varón | (noun) male |
(noun) clubs in a deck of cards | basto | vasto | (adjective) vast |
(adjective) beautiful | bello | vello | (noun) fine body hair |
(noun) beta, second letter of the Greek alphabet | beta |
veta |
(noun) grain |
(noun) assets/goods | bienes | vienes | (verb) present 2nd person singular of the verb venir (comes) |
(noun) reel, bobbin | bobina | bovina | (adjective) bovine |
(verb) bounce | botar | votar | (verb) vote |
(noun) boots (verb) present 2nd person singular of the verb botar |
botas | votas | (verb) present 2nd person singular of the verb votar |
(verb) preterite 3rd person singular of callar (shut up) |
calló | cayó | (verb) preterite 3rd person singular of caer (fall) |
(verb) shoe a horse | herrar | errar | (verb) miss, wander |
(noun) strip of fabric | jira | gira | (noun) tour |
(verb) record | grabar | gravar | (verb) engrave |
(verb) 3rd person present subjunctive of grabar | grabe | grave | (adjective) serious |
(verb) auxiliary verb | haber | a ver | (expression) let’s see |
(noun) beech tree (verb) 1st + 3rd person subjunctive of haber |
haya | halla | (verb) present 3rd person singular of the verb hallar |
(preposition) until | hasta | asta | (noun) flagpole |
(verb) flick through | hojear | ojear | (verb) skim a text |
(interjection) hello | hola | ola | (noun) wave |
(noun) hour | hora | ora | (verb) present 3rd person singular of orar |
(noun) needle | huso | uso | (noun) use |
(noun) daisy (adjective) Mayan |
maya | malla | (noun) netting |
(verb) 3rd person singular of the verb nadar | nada |
nada |
(indefinite pronoun) nothing |
(noun) catapult | honda | onda | (noun) wave |
(noun) hole | hoya | olla | (noun) pot |
(adjective) wise | sabia | savia | (noun) sap |
(noun) tea | té | te |
(noun) letter of the alphabet (pronoun) |
(verb) scratch | rayar | rallar | (verb) grate |
(verb) rebel | rebelar | revelar | (verb) reveal |
(noun) riverbank | ribera | rivera | (noun) stream |
(verb) present 1st person singular of traer | traje |
traje |
(noun) ∼ de baño, swimming costume |
(verb) 1st and 3rd person singular present subjunctive of ir (interjection) to express disappointment |
vaya | valla | (noun) fence |
(noun) wine | vino | vino | (verb) preterite 3rd person singular of venir |