Sign in
spectacles and Spanish espectáculos
In English
spectacles
eyeglasses
In Spanish
espectáculos
eventos para el público
Spanish "espectáculos" means: shows
Why they get mixed up Spanish "espectáculo" is a show, event, or public exhibition. English "spectacles" are the eyeglasses you wear to see. A show in English is "show" or "spectacle" in the singular.
If you want to say...
- spectacleslentes o gafas
- showespectáculo
- spectacleespectáculo (impresionante)
Examples
He cleaned his spectacles.
Limpió sus lentes.
She wears spectacles for reading.
Usa gafas para leer.
He put on his spectacles to read the menu.
Se puso las gafas para leer el menú.
Her spectacles slid down her nose.
Sus gafas se le deslizaron por la nariz.
Common mistakes in Spanish
Incorrect: Me puse los espectáculos para leer.
Correct: Me puse los lentes para leer.
Espectáculos are shows. Glasses are lentes, gafas or anteojos.
Incorrect: Perdí mis espectáculos en el autobús.
Correct: Perdí mis gafas en el autobús.
Use gafas or lentes for eyeglasses.
Phrases you will hear
- a pair of spectaclesunas gafas
- put on your spectaclesponerse las gafas
- reading spectaclesgafas de lectura
- a magnificent spectacleun espectáculo magnífico
- a showun espectáculo
- glasseslentes
In a conversation
- A:
Where are my spectacles?
¿Dónde están mis gafas?
- B:
On your nose!
¡En tu nariz!
- A:
Oh! I'm going to a show tonight.
¡Ah! Esta noche voy a un espectáculo.
- B:
Then you need your glasses to enjoy the spectacle.
Entonces necesitas tus lentes para disfrutar el espectáculo.
Test yourself
"A pair of spectacles" is...
To remember it
Spectacles = eyeglasses. Shows/events (Spanish "espectáculos") = shows.
Frequently asked questions
What does Spanish "espectáculos" mean?
Spanish "espectáculos" means "shows". It looks like the English "spectacles", which is exactly why it gets confused, but "spectacles" means "eyeglasses".
Does English "spectacles" mean the same as Spanish "espectáculos"?
Spanish "espectáculo" is a show, event, or public exhibition. English "spectacles" are the eyeglasses you wear to see. A show in English is "show" or "spectacle" in the singular.