The word for book in Spanish is libro, which comes from the Latin word liber. If you have trouble remembering it, just think of the English word library!
Latin American Pronunciation
European Spanish Pronunciation
Originally, the Latin term referred to the inner bark of certain plants, which, upon drying, served as a writing material in ancient times, before evolving to signify book.
Libro is a masculine noun, so it takes the following definite and indefinite articles:
- el libro (the book)
- los libros (the books)
- un libro (a book)
- unos libros (some books)
Me gusta este libro pero no estoy interesada en ese.
I like this book but I’m not keen on that one.
Some important terms related to libro include:
- librería = bookstore / bookcase
- libreta = notebook
- libreto = screenplay / script
- librero/a = bookcase
Growing up, nearly all children have two types of books: coloring books (libros para colorear) and storybooks (libros de cuentos). As they enter school age, they begin using school books (libros de texto or libros escolares) and reading novels (novelas), which can be either hardback (libros de tapa dura or libros encuadernados) or paperback (libros de bolsillo).
Other type of books include:
- libro contable = ledger
- libro desplegable = pop-up book
- libro de caja = cashbook
- libro de calificaciones = report card
- libro de consulta = reference book
- libro sagrado = holy book
- libro electrónico = e-book
- libro de cocina = cookbook
- libro de visitas = visitors’ book
- libro de imágenes = picture book
A mi hijo le encanta este lindo libro desplegable.
My son loves this cute pop-up book.
If you are a fan of reading novels, you may wonder how the most popular genres translate into Spanish. Here they are:
- romance = novela rosa or novela romántica
- fantasy = literatura fantástica
- science fiction = ciencia ficción
- thriller = novela de suspense / thriller
- detective / crime = novela detectivesca / novela policíaca
- horror = novela de terror
- adventure = novela de aventuras
Idiomatic expressions using the word ‘libro’
Ser (como) un libro abierto
English meaning: to be an open book
Literal translation: to be (like) an open book
Colgar los libros
English meaning: to give up studying / drop out
Literal translation: to hang up the books
Hablar como un libro
English meaning: to speak very well, to express oneself well, to speak like a textbook
Literal translation: to speak like a book
Juzgar un libro por su portada
English meaning: to judge a book by its cover
Literal translation: to judge a book by its cover
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