misterio
/misˈteɾjo/masculine
The English word 'mystery' is misterio in Spanish. Wiktionary also lists arcano.
Meaning: something secret or unexplainable (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| misterio | /misˈteɾjo/ | masculine |
| arcano | /aɾˈkano/ |
The term refers to something secret or unexplainable.
Which one should you use?
While misterio is the standard word for mystery, arcano is a more formal or literary term used to describe something profound, secret or esoteric.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of misterio is formed by adding '-s' to get misterios. If you want to use an adjective to describe something as 'mysterious', you can use enigmático (masculine) or enigmática (feminine).
How do you pronounce it?
/misˈteɾjo/
Did you know?
- In some literary contexts, arcano is used as a noun to refer to the Major Arcana cards in a Tarot deck.
- The word misterio is etymologically linked to the concept of an 'initiate'. It comes from the Ancient Greek word for someone who has been introduced into secret rites.
- In Spanish, the word misterio can be used to describe a 'mystery' in a spiritual or religious sense, such as the 'misterios' of the Rosary.
Examples in context
- He resuelto el misterio.I solved the mystery.This sentence shows how to express solving a mystery using misterio.Tatoeba #4388869 by pchamorro, translation #2406531 by CK
- A Tom le gusta el misterio.Tom likes mystery.This sentence shows how to express liking mystery using misterio.Tatoeba #1515285 by marcelostockle, translation #1514256 by Spamster
- La vida es un gran misterio.Life is a great mystery.This sentence shows how to describe life as a great mystery using misterio.Tatoeba #636870 by Shishir, translation #635662 by BraveSentry
- La desaparición del antiguo tesoro es un misterio sin resolver.The disappearance of the ancient treasure is an unsolved mystery.
- El asesinato del famoso escritor sigue siendo un enigma para la policía.The murder of the famous writer remains an enigma for the police.
- No entiendo cómo desaparecieron las llaves. ¡Es un misterio total!I don't understand how the keys vanished. It's a total mystery!
- La boda de María y Juan es toda una incógnita. Han mantenido todo en secreto.María and Juan's wedding is a complete mystery. They've kept everything a secret.
- La selva amazónica está llena de enigmas, misterios y emocionantes aventuras.The Amazon rainforest is full of enigmas, mysteries, and thrilling adventures.
- No sé qué pasó con mi teléfono. Simplemente desapareció, ¡una cosa rara!I don't know what happened to my phone. It simply vanished, such a strange thing!
- 47 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and María are discussing a strange noise in the house.
- JavierEse ruido es un misterio.That noise is a mystery.
- MaríaTienes razón, Javier.You are right, Javier.
- JavierDebemos resolver este misterio ahora.We must solve this mystery now.
- MaríaVamos a buscar el origen.Let's look for the origin.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mystery” translations and entries misterio, arcano, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries arcano, misterio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
