una película
/una pelikula/from spelling rules
In Spanish, 'a movie' is una película.
The phrase una película is a common way to refer to a story told using moving images. While película is the standard term for a movie, you might encounter largometraje when specifically referring to a full-length feature film or trama when discussing the plot of a movie. Additionally, el cine can be used to refer to both the cinema itself and the movie being shown.
Which one should you use?
Película is the general term for a movie. If you are talking specifically about a full-length feature film, use largometraje. In certain contexts, you may also use el cine to mean either the cinema or the movie itself.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural 'movies', use películas.
Did you know?
- The word película is a diminutive of the Latin word for 'skin', meaning it literally translates to 'a little skin'.
- Spanish has a specific word trama for the plot of a movie, which shares a root with the word for the 'weft' threads used in weaving a fabric.
- When discussing the movie industry, the phrase la gran pantalla is often used to refer to the theatrical experience, contrasting it with la pequeña pantalla for television.
Examples in context
- Vi una película ayer.I saw a movie yesterday.This sentence shows how to use una película to describe seeing a movie in the past.Tatoeba #13046058 by ecorralest101, translation #10713880 by quoctrong018
- Quiero ver una película.I want to see a movie.This sentence demonstrates using una película with the verb for wanting to see something.Tatoeba #4762537 by DarkHollow, translation #4761637 by DrWinters
- Vamos a ver una película.Let's go to a movie.This sentence shows how to use una película when suggesting going to see a movie.Tatoeba #1357133 by marcelostockle, translation #388684 by CK
- Vamos a ver una película esta nocheLet's watch a movie tonight.
- El estreno del nuevo largometraje ha sido muy esperadoThe premiere of the new feature film has been highly anticipated.
- ¿Quieres ver una peli esta noche?Do you want to watch a movie tonight?
- ¿Qué tal si vamos al cine?How about we go see a movie?
- 70 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are deciding what to do on a Friday night.
- Elena¿Quieres ver una película esta noche?Do you want to watch a movie tonight?
- DanielSí, suena muy bien, Elena.Yes, that sounds very good, Elena.
- ElenaPodemos elegir una película de acción.We can choose an action movie.
- DanielMe parece una excelente idea.That sounds like an excellent idea to me.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries película, una, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
