Spanish word

legado

Pronunciation

IPA/leˈɣaðo/

Meaning

  • masculine nouninheritance

Example

Mi madre recibió un legado de su abuelo.

My mother received an inheritance from her grandfather.

Illustration for legado (inheritance)

More examples

La tradición es un legado que se transmite entre generaciones.

Tradition is a legacy that is passed down through generations.

Core concept

A specific gift left by someone in their will or the teachings and influence they pass on.

Common phrases

  • recibir un legado

    receive an inheritance

  • dejar un legado

    leave an inheritance

  • legado cultural

    cultural legacy

Similar words

herencia: Property and rights that heirs inherit under law after someone's death.
patrimonio: The total assets and cultural values that belong to a person or community.
donación: Money or things that someone gives free while still alive.
testamento: A written document that states who receives property and how it is divided.

Definition in Spanish

Legado es el bien o la herencia que una persona deja por testamento, y también la influencia o enseñanza que persiste después de su muerte.

Word origin

Derived from Latin legatum 'thing entrusted', used in medieval law for testamentary gifts and later extended metaphorically to teachings and cultural inheritance.

Usage tips

  • In legal contexts legado often names a particular testamentary gift, while herencia refers to the overall inheritance, so context or verbs like recibir un legado clarify the meaning.

Other meanings

  • bequestnoun
  • legacynoun

Related words

  • legarbequeathverb

Word lists with this word