las cuatro estaciones
/las kwatɾo estaθjones/from spelling rules
The English phrase "the four seasons" is translated into Spanish as las cuatro estaciones.
While you can say las cuatro estaciones on its own, it is very common in Spanish to use the idiomatic expression las cuatro estaciones del año (the four seasons of the year) to complete the thought.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the feminine plural article las (the), the number cuatro (four) and the feminine plural noun estaciones (seasons).
How does it change in a sentence?
Because estaciones is a feminine noun, the article las and the number cuatro must agree in gender and number, though cuatro remains the same for both masculine and feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
/las kwatɾo estaθjones/
Did you know?
- In equatorial regions where Spanish is spoken, people rarely use las cuatro estaciones because the climate only has wet and dry periods. The concept of four distinct seasons is often absent from their daily vocabulary.
- While English uses 'station' for both radio and train stops, Spanish uses estación for these as well as for the seasons. This creates a linguistic link between a frequency, a transit stop and a period of the year.
- The number cuatro shares a common ancestor with the English word 'four', both tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root *kʷetwóres.
Examples in context
- Las cuatro estaciones del año son: primavera, verano, otoño e invierno.The four seasons are: spring, summer, autumn and winter.This sentence is useful for listing the names of the seasons using las cuatro estaciones.Tatoeba #1215781 by wallebot, translation #1215782 by wallebot
- Las cuatro estaciones del año son primavera, verano, otoño e invierno.The four seasons of the year are spring, summer, autumn, and winter.Tatoeba #2795306 by carlosalberto, translation #2795285 by carlosalberto
- Me encanta disfrutar de las cuatro estaciones.I love enjoying the four seasons.
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are talking about the weather.
- Alejandro¿Cuál es tu favorita de las cuatro estaciones?Which of the four seasons is your favorite?
- MaríaMe encanta el otoño, Alejandro.I love autumn, Alejandro.
- AlejandroYo prefiero el invierno.I prefer winter.
- MaríaCada una tiene algo especial.Each one has something special.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuatro, las, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
