almenara
/almeˈnaɾa/feminine
The English word "beacon" can be translated into Spanish as almenara or fanal.
Meaning: signaling or guiding mark erected as guide to mariners (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| almenara | /almeˈnaɾa/ | feminine |
| fanal | /faˈnal/ | masculine |
In Spanish, a beacon is a signaling or guiding mark erected to guide mariners.
Which one should you use?
While both words refer to a beacon, almenara is a more formal or literary term. In contrast, fanal is used specifically in a nautical context to refer to a light or lantern used as a beacon.
How does it change in a sentence?
Almenara is a feminine noun. Its plural form is almenaras. Fanal is a masculine noun. Its plural form is fanales.
How do you pronounce it?
/almeˈnaɾa/
Did you know?
- The word almenara shares a linguistic root with the Arabic word for 'minaret', as both were originally towers designed to be visible from a distance.
- In historical Spanish contexts, almenaras were not just lights but guarded watchtowers used to alert the coast of pirate attacks.
- The word fanal shares a common ancestor with the Ancient Greek word phanárion.
Examples in context
- El faro guía a los marineros en la oscuridad.The beacon guides sailors in the darkness.
- La señal luminosa indica la ubicación del puerto.The beacon indicates the location of the harbor.
- Vieron la almenara desde la cubierta del barco.They saw the beacon from the ship's deck.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are looking at a map of the coastline.
- LucíaMira, aquí está la almenara de piedra.Look, here is the stone beacon.
- JavierNo sabía que todavía existía esa marca.I didn't know that mark still existed.
- LucíaSí, es un guía histórico para marineros.Yes, it is a historic guide for sailors.
- JavierSerá interesante visitarla mañana, Lucía.It will be interesting to visit it tomorrow, Lucía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beacon” translations and entries almenara, fanal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries almenara, fanal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
