Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| velero | /beˈleɾo/ | masculine |
| embarcación a vela | /embaɾkaθjon a bela/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /embaɾkasjon a bela/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
A sailboat is a vessel propelled by a sail. You can use several terms depending on the context: velero is the most common term, while embarcación a vela is a more descriptive and technical way to refer to any sail-propelled vessel. If you are talking about a larger and more luxurious vessel, you might use yate de vela. In historical contexts, an old-fashioned sailboat may be referred to as a galeón.
What does it mean word for word?
The word velero is derived from vela, which means 'sail'. The phrase embarcación a vela literally translates to 'vessel by sail'.
Which one should you use?
Use velero to refer to the specific type of boat. In contrast, embarcación a vela serves as a more technical and descriptive term for any vessel using sails.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of velero is veleros. While velero is the standard masculine noun, velera is a less common feminine form used in certain nautical contexts. The phrase embarcación a vela is feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
/beˈleɾo/
Did you know?
- The term embarcación contains a root derived from the Ancient Egyptian word bꜣjr.
- In Spanish, the word vela is a homonym that can mean both a 'sail' and a 'candle'.
- The Spanish verb velar can mean both 'to keep watch' and 'to sail', linking the act of navigation with staying alert.
Examples in context
- El sol relucía en el agua delante del viejo velero.The sun glittered on the water in front of the old sailboat.This sentence uses velero to describe the sun reflecting on the water near an old sailboat.Tatoeba #8540400 by diegohn, translation #4464860 by XenoKat
- Todo lo que ellos podían ver era el agua azul rodeando su velero.All they could see was the blue water surrounding their sailboat.This sentence uses velero to describe the blue water surrounding a sailboat.Tatoeba #13804096 by mervert1, translation #13804078 by Just_Balls
- Me encanta navegar en un velero.I love sailing in a sailboat.
- El barco de vela es un medio de transporte ecológico.The sailboat is an eco-friendly means of transportation.
- Vamos a alquilar un yate de vela para nuestras vacaciones.We are going to rent a sailboat for our vacation.
- Compré un velero pequeño para las vacaciones.I bought a small sailboat for the holidays.
Example conversation
Javier and María are looking at a boat catalog in a cafe.
- Javier¿Te gusta este velero blanco?Do you like this white sailboat?
- MaríaSí, es muy elegante, Javier.Yes, it is very elegant, Javier.
- JavierPodemos navegar con él en el verano.We can sail with it in the summer.
- MaríaSería una idea fantástica.That would be a fantastic idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sailboat” translations and entries velero, embarcación a vela, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, embarcación, vela, velero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
