Spanish Conversation · Level 170
15 words
Spanish word
silueta
Pronunciation
IPA/siˈlweta/
Meaning
- feminine nounsilhouette
Example
Desde lejos vi la silueta de un perro en la colina.
From a distance I saw the silhouette of a dog on the hill.
More examples
Al anochecer se veía la silueta del edificio desde la plaza.
At dusk the building's outline could be seen from the square.
Core concept
Simple contour showing the general shape of a person or thing against its background.
Common phrases
la silueta de una persona
silhouette of a person
la silueta del edificio
outline of the building
una silueta borrosa
indistinct silhouette
Similar words
perfil: Side-view outline of a head or body that defines the facial or bodily profile.
contorno: Contour line tracing a form's outer edge to indicate its shape.
sombra: Dark shape produced by blocked light that falls on a surface.
Definition in Spanish
Perfil o figura que define la forma general de una persona o cosa cuando su contorno se distingue del fondo.
Word origin
The Spanish word comes from French silhouette, which took its name from the proper name Étienne de Silhouette that came to mean a profile portrait or outline.
Usage tips
- Silueta differs from sombra in that silueta highlights the object's outline while sombra denotes a shadow or shaded area.
Other meanings
- outlinenoun
- shapenoun