Spanish word

suelo

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈswelo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounground

Example

Los niños juegan en el suelo.

The children are playing on the ground.

Illustration for suelo (ground)

More examples

¿Por qué hay manchas en el suelo?

Why are there stains on the floor?

Core concept

Ground or floor surface where people walk and objects rest.

Common phrases

  • pisar el suelo

    step on the floor

  • limpiar el suelo

    clean the floor

Similar words

piso: Flat, finished indoor floor surface within a building for walking on.
tierra: Natural outdoor surface of soil and dirt forming the earth underfoot.
acera: Paved walkway beside a road created for pedestrians to walk on.
pavimento: Hard paved layer applied to roads or sidewalks to support traffic.

Definition in Spanish

Terreno o capa superficial que forma la base donde se ponen cosas o se camina, incluyendo tanto tierra natural como pisos construidos.

Word origin

From Latin solum 'ground, bottom', via medieval Spanish sound changes to modern suelo, keeping the sense of a base or surface.

Usage tips

  • Spanish commonly uses piso to name a finished indoor floor or an apartment, while suelo refers to the general ground or surface underfoot.

Other meanings

  • floornoun
  • soilnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word