Spanish Conversation · Level 70
60 words
Spanish word
mito
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈmito/
Meaning
- masculine nounmyth
Example
Eso es un mito.
That is a myth.
More examples
Un mito urbano se comparte con facilidad.
An urban legend spreads easily.
Core concept
Traditional community tale that explains origins or natural phenomena.
Common phrases
mito urbano
urban legend
mito popular
popular myth
mito fundacional
founding myth
Similar words
leyenda: Oral or written story about notable people or local events with a traditional or historical tone.
fábula: Short fictional tale with animals or personified figures that teaches a moral.
cuento: Short invented story that provides entertainment or illustrates a simple lesson.
mitología: Cultural system of myths about gods, heroes, and a people's origins and beliefs.
Definition in Spanish
Narración antigua transmitida por una comunidad que da sentido al mundo mediante personajes o relatos fundacionales; por extensión, creencia popular sin base probada.
Word origin
From Greek μῦθος 'word, story' via Latin, mito originally means a traditional narrative and in modern Spanish also denotes a widely held but unproven belief.
Usage tips
- In modern Spanish mito often refers to a popular misconception as well as an ancient tale, and verbs such as desmontar or desmentir commonly mark the debunking sense.
Other meanings
- legendnoun
- misconceptionnoun
Related words
- mitologíamythologynoun
- mitológicomythologicaladjective
- mitologizarmythologizeverb