kilómetros cuadrados
/kilometɾos kwadɾados/from spelling rules
The English phrase "square kilometers" is translated into Spanish as kilómetros cuadrados.
kilómetros cuadrados is a unit of measurement used to describe the size of an area. In mathematical or scientific contexts, if you wish to say "squared" as an operation, you use the phrase al cuadrado. Note that the mathematical symbol km² is used in Spanish exactly as it is in English.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of kilómetros (kilometers) and cuadrados (square).
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, the adjective cuadrados must agree in both gender and number with the masculine noun kilómetros. When referring to a single unit, both the noun and the adjective become singular: kilómetro cuadrado.
How do you pronounce it?
/kilometɾos kwadɾados/
Did you know?
- The word cuadrado is also used in Spanish to describe someone who is 'square' or 'stodgy' in personality, meaning they are boring or overly conventional. This is a figurative use of the same word used for the geometric shape.
- In some Spanish-speaking countries, large areas of land are measured in hectáreas (hectares) rather than kilómetros cuadrados to avoid dealing with very small decimals.
- If you are describing the total area of a country, you might hear the word extensión used instead of the literal mathematical term. For example, one might say una extensión de cien kilómetros cuadrados to sound more natural in a journalistic context.
Examples in context
- El parque nacional ocupa cien kilómetros cuadrados.The national park covers one hundred square kilometers.
- El lago tiene unos cuantos kilómetros cuadrados de superficie.The lake has a few square kilometers of surface area.
- El parque tiene diez kilómetros cuadrados.The park has ten square kilometers.
- La isla mide cincuenta kilómetros cuadrados.The island measures fifty square kilometers.
- Es una zona de mil kilómetros cuadrados.It is an area of one thousand square kilometers.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are discussing the size of a nature reserve.
- Alejandro¿Sabes cuántos kilómetros cuadrados tiene la reserva?Do you know how many square kilometers the reserve has?
- LucíaCreo que tiene cien kilómetros cuadrados.I think it has one hundred square kilometers.
- AlejandroEs mucho más grande de lo que pensaba.It is much larger than I thought.
- LucíaSí, es un espacio inmenso.Yes, it is an immense space.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
