Spanish word

alerta

Pronunciation

IPA/aˈleɾta/

Meaning

  • feminine nounalert

Example

Hay que estar en alerta.

You have to be on alert.

Illustration for alerta (alert)

More examples

El gobierno emitió una alerta por la tormenta.

The government issued an alert for the storm.

Core concept

Immediate readiness to detect and respond to danger.

Common phrases

  • estar en alerta

    be on alert

  • poner en alerta

    put on alert

  • emitir una alerta

    issue an alert

Similar words

atención: Careful noticing of surroundings, with eyes and mind on the situation.
precaución: Taking preventive measures in advance to avoid possible danger.
alarma: Sudden signal or condition that compels immediate attention to imminent danger.
vigilancia: Continuous monitoring of a place or situation to spot problems early.

Definition in Spanish

Situación de atención intensa ante una posible amenaza, con intención de detectar y responder pronto.

Word origin

It comes from Italian all'erta via French alerte, originally meaning 'on the watch', and emphasizes readiness to respond quickly.

Usage tips

  • The noun is feminine (la alerta) and often appears in set phrases like estado de alerta or poner en alerta rather than as a casual synonym of cuidado.

Other meanings

  • watchfulnessnoun
  • warningnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • alertaralertverb
  • prealertapre-alertnoun
  • alertadoalertedadjective

Word lists with this word