Spanish word

atlas

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈatlas/

Meaning

  • masculine nounatlas

Example

Compré un atlas para el viaje.

I bought an atlas for the trip.

Illustration for atlas (atlas)

More examples

Abrimos el atlas mundial para ubicar los países.

We opened the world atlas to locate the countries.

Core concept

Bound book collecting maps of countries, regions, and the world for reference.

Common phrases

  • atlas mundial

    world atlas

  • atlas escolar

    school atlas

  • atlas de bolsillo

    pocket atlas

Similar words

mapa: Shows a single place or region on one sheet with its location and physical features.
plano: Depicts the scaled, flat layout of a town or building with streets and plots.
guía: Provides travel information and routes in a small book or booklet for visitors.
mapamundi: Displays the whole world on one sheet with continents and their relative positions.

Definition in Spanish

Libro que reúne mapas de países, regiones o del mundo, ordenados y encuadernados para consultar ubicaciones y rasgos geográficos.

Word origin

The name comes from the Titan Atlas of Greek myth, whose link to the earth made his name a natural label for bound collections of maps used by early cartographers.

Usage tips

  • The noun is masculine in Spanish (el atlas), and speakers normally use mapa when they mean a single map or are giving directions.

Word lists with this word