Spanish word

velero

Pronunciation

IPA/beˈleɾo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounsailing boat

Example

Vimos un velero en el puerto.

We saw a sailing boat in the harbor.

Illustration for velero (sailing boat)

More examples

Aprendimos a navegar en un velero durante las vacaciones.

We learned to sail in a sailboat during our vacation.

Core concept

Boat propelled mainly by sails.

Common phrases

  • navegar en velero

    sail in a sailboat

  • subir al velero

    board the sailboat

  • atracar el velero

    dock the sailboat

Similar words

barco: Vessel for carrying people or cargo on rivers or the sea.
lancha: Small motorboat used near coasts or in harbors.
bote: Small craft rowed or powered by a small engine.
yate: Well-equipped pleasure boat used for leisure.

Definition in Spanish

Unidad de navegación cuyo medio principal de avance son las velas; puede abarcar desde embarcaciones pequeñas hasta mayores, y se distingue de los barcos a motor.

Word origin

From Spanish vela 'sail' (from Latin velum) plus the suffix -ero meaning 'related to', so velero denotes a vessel associated with sails.

Usage tips

  • Because vela also means 'candle', velero or the phrase navegar a vela clarifies that the reference is to sailing rather than to a candle.

Other meanings

  • sailing yachtnoun

Opposites

  • barco a motormotorboatnoun
  • lanchaspeedboatnoun

Related words

  • veleristayachtsmannoun
  • velerismoyachtingnoun

Word lists with this word