las (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

"Las" is a definite article in Spanish, specifically the plural form of "la," which is the feminine singular definite article.

Phonetic Transcription

The phonetic transcription of "las" using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is /las/.

Translation Options into English

• The (plural feminine form)

Meaning and Use

In Spanish, "las" is used to specify or clarify a noun that is both plural and feminine. It precedes Feminine plural nouns, similar to "the" in English, and is a fundamental element in Spanish grammar.

• Frequency of Use: "Las" is frequently used in both written and spoken contexts, especially in descriptive and narrative texts.
• Context: Commonly found in academic texts, everyday conversations, literature, and official documents.

Example Sentences

1. Las casas son muy grandes.

2. The houses are very big.

3. Las chicas están en el parque.

4. The girls are in the park.

5. Las flores del jardín son hermosas.

6. The flowers in the garden are beautiful.

Idiomatic Expressions

The word "las" appears in various idiomatic expressions, often relating to groups of feminine nouns. Here are some examples:

1. Las cosas como son.
2. The things as they are.

3. This expression highlights the importance of addressing reality without embellishment.

4. Las apariencias engañan.

5. Appearances deceive.

6. This saying cautions against judging based solely on looks.

7. Las manos en la masa.

8. Hands in the dough.

9. This expression implies being caught in the act of doing something wrong.

10. Las deudas son un mal necesario.

11. Debts are a necessary evil.

12. This indicates that while debt is undesirable, it may sometimes be unavoidable.

13. Las palabras se las lleva el viento.

14. Words are carried away by the wind.
15. This implies that spoken words can easily be forgotten or ignored.

Etymology

The word "las" comes from Latin "illae," which is the plural form of the Latin word "illa," meaning "that" or "those." Through phonetic evolution and the development of the Spanish language, "illae" transformed into "las."

Synonyms and Antonyms

• Synonyms:

• "Las" does not have direct synonyms as it is a grammatical article; however, it could be compared to other articles like "los" (masculine plural) in context.

• Antonyms:

• The antonym in search of specifying plurality and femininity could be "los," which is the masculine plural article.

This analysis covers various aspects of the word "las," providing a comprehensive understanding of its grammatical role and usage in the Spanish language.