Spanish Conversation · Level 20
90 words
Spanish word
nave
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈnaβe/
Meaning
- feminine nounship
Example
La nave llegó al puerto.
The ship arrived at the port.
More examples
La nave de carga llegó con retraso.
The cargo ship arrived late.
Core concept
Formal vessel for navigation on sea or river.
Common phrases
la nave de carga
cargo ship
la nave de pasajeros
passenger ship
Similar words
barco: Everyday ship that transports passengers or freight along coasts and open sea.
bote: Small boatlike craft that carries a handful of people or small loads on short journeys.
embarcación: Any kind of vessel used for fishing, transport, or other work on the water.
buque: Large seagoing ship that serves long-distance commercial routes or naval duties.
Definition in Spanish
Embarcación destinada a navegar por mar o río; término más formal que «barco» y usado en compuestos como «nave espacial».
Word origin
Spanish nave derives from Latin navis 'ship' via medieval Latin and the Romance languages and shares its root with the church 'nave' because church interiors are likened to an inverted hull.
Usage tips
- In everyday speech Spaniards usually say barco or barca; nave is more formal and appears in compounds like nave espacial, and in phrases such as nave industrial it means a warehouse rather than a ship.
Other meanings
- spaceshipnoun
- navenoun
Opposites
- tierralandnoun
Related words
- navalnavaladjective
- navieroshippingadjective