Spanish Conversation · Level 137
44 words
Spanish word
zócalo
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈθokalo/
Meaning
- masculine nountown square
Example
El zócalo está en el centro de la ciudad.
The town square is in the center of the city.
More examples
¿Quieres ir al zócalo esta tarde?
Do you want to go to the town square this afternoon?
Core concept
Main open public square in a city center.
Common phrases
ir al zócalo
go to the town square
en el zócalo
in the town square
Similar words
plaza: Central open square in an urban area used for social life, markets, and festivals.
parque: Green public space with trees and lawns set up for leisure, play, and strolls.
plaza de armas: Main town square with a long-standing role as the site of civic rituals and parades.
Definition in Spanish
Área pública abierta en el centro urbano que funciona como plaza principal de la ciudad; por extensión, también la pieza que sirve de base de una estatua o la moldura inferior de una pared.
Word origin
From Italian zoccolo meaning 'base' or 'block', originally referring to a pedestal or plinth and later extended to the place where such a base stood and to the lower molding of a wall.
Usage tips
- In Mexico zócalo is the common word for the central plaza, while in Spain speakers typically prefer plaza, so zócalo often sounds regionally Mexican.
Other meanings
- pedestalnoun
- baseboardnoun
Opposites
- periferiaoutskirtsnoun