Spanish Conversation · Level 45
75 words
Spanish word
recto
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈrekto/
Meaning
- adjectivestraight
Example
El camino es recto.
The road is straight.
More examples
Mantén la espalda recta al sentarte.
Keep an upright posture when you sit.
Core concept
A straight road stretching ahead with no curves.
Common phrases
camino recto
straight road
línea recta
straight line
espalda recta
upright posture
Similar words
derecho: Points in a straight direction with no turning.
directo: Goes straight to a destination without detours.
Definition in Spanish
Que sigue una trayectoria sin curvarse; en sentido figurado, que muestra honestidad e integridad moral.
Word origin
From Latin rectus, from regere 'to rule or guide', the word literally meant 'straight' and by metaphor came to mean 'upright' in character.
Usage tips
- Recto is an adjective and agrees in gender and number (recto/recta/rectos/rectas), and for directions many speakers use 'sigue recto' though 'derecho' is common in parts of Latin America.
Other meanings
- honestadjective
Opposites
- torcidobentadjective
- curvocurvedadjective
Related words
- rectificarcorrectverb
- rectificacióncorrectionnoun
- rectituduprightnessnoun