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A2 noun #1,500 mais comum 12 min de leitura

kilómetro

Top 1,500

At the A1 level, learners are introduced to the word 'kilómetro' as a basic unit of measurement. The focus is primarily on recognition and simple usage in everyday contexts. A beginner will learn to understand 'kilómetro' when reading road signs or looking at maps. They will practice combining the word with basic numbers, such as 'un kilómetro', 'dos kilómetros', or 'diez kilómetros'. The goal at this stage is to be able to state simple facts about distance, for example, 'El hotel está a un kilómetro' (The hotel is one kilometer away). Learners are also taught the abbreviation 'km' and how to pronounce the word correctly, paying special attention to the stress on the 'o' (ki-LÓ-me-tro). Vocabulary exercises at this level often involve matching numbers with the word 'kilómetro' and understanding basic questions like '¿A cuántos kilómetros está?' (How many kilometers away is it?). The cultural aspect is also introduced briefly, noting that Spanish-speaking countries use the metric system instead of miles. This foundational knowledge is crucial for basic navigation and travel, allowing A1 learners to ask for simple directions and understand the responses they receive when visiting a Spanish-speaking country. The usage is kept very literal and concrete, avoiding any figurative or complex grammatical structures.

As learners progress to the A2 level, their use of 'kilómetro' becomes more integrated into functional, everyday communication. They move beyond simple statements of distance to using the word in contexts like giving and receiving detailed directions, discussing travel plans, and talking about daily routines. An A2 learner might say, 'Todos los días corro cinco kilómetros en el parque' (Every day I run five kilometers in the park) or 'El próximo pueblo está a veinte kilómetros por esta carretera' (The next town is twenty kilometers down this road). At this stage, learners are expected to comfortably use prepositions associated with distance, particularly 'a' (e.g., 'a tres kilómetros de aquí'). They also begin to encounter the concept of speed, learning the phrase 'kilómetros por hora' (km/h) to understand speed limits and describe how fast a vehicle is moving. The vocabulary expands to include related words like 'metro' and 'distancia'. Listening comprehension exercises at the A2 level often feature GPS navigation instructions or public transport announcements that use 'kilómetro'. The focus is on practical independence: ensuring the learner can rent a car, follow a map, or plan a short trip while accurately understanding and communicating distances in kilometers.

At the B1 level, the word 'kilómetro' is used with greater fluency and in a wider variety of contexts. Learners are now capable of discussing travel, geography, and vehicles in more detail. They can talk about road trips, describing the journey in terms of kilometers covered: 'Ayer condujimos más de trescientos kilómetros' (Yesterday we drove more than three hundred kilometers). The concept of fuel efficiency is introduced, and learners understand phrases like 'litros por cada cien kilómetros'. At this intermediate stage, learners also start to encounter 'kilómetro' in news reports and articles, such as reading about a marathon ('una carrera de 42 kilómetros') or the extent of a natural area ('un parque de varios kilómetros cuadrados'). The grammar becomes more complex, integrating 'kilómetro' with different past and future tenses to narrate travel experiences or plan future itineraries. B1 learners are also expected to have completely internalized the metric system conceptually, no longer needing to mentally translate kilometers to miles to understand the scale of a distance. They might also begin to hear mild figurative uses, though literal usage remains dominant. The ability to use 'kilómetro' accurately in continuous conversation about travel and geography is a key marker of B1 proficiency.

At the B2 level, learners have achieved a high degree of comfort with 'kilómetro' and use it naturally in both concrete and abstract discussions. They can debate topics like urban planning, environmental impact, and transportation infrastructure, using 'kilómetro' to provide precise data and support their arguments. For example, a B2 learner might say, 'La construcción de la nueva autopista reducirá el trayecto en cincuenta kilómetros, pero afectará varios kilómetros cuadrados de bosque' (The construction of the new highway will reduce the journey by fifty kilometers, but it will affect several square kilometers of forest). At this level, learners are fully aware of related terminology such as 'kilometraje' (mileage) and can confidently discuss buying a used car based on its 'kilometraje'. They also understand and use idiomatic or hyperbolic expressions involving distance, such as 'Se nota a kilómetros que está mintiendo' (You can tell from kilometers away that he is lying). The pronunciation is flawless, and the spelling, including the mandatory accent mark, is consistently correct. B2 learners can easily comprehend fast-paced native speech, such as sports commentary describing the final kilometers of a cycling race or news reports detailing the radius of an event in kilometers.

At the C1 level, the use of 'kilómetro' is sophisticated and nuanced, reflecting a near-native command of the language. Learners can effortlessly navigate highly technical, academic, or literary texts where 'kilómetro' is used. They understand specialized contexts, such as civil engineering reports discussing 'kilómetros de vías férreas' (kilometers of railway tracks) or scientific articles detailing geographical phenomena. C1 learners are adept at using 'kilómetro' in complex, multi-clause sentences and can seamlessly switch between literal and figurative meanings. They might use expressions like 'poner tierra de por medio y alejarse miles de kilómetros' (to put distance between and move thousands of kilometers away) to describe emotional or physical separation. Furthermore, they are culturally fluent, understanding references to specific locations like 'el Kilómetro Cero' in Madrid and what it represents historically and geographically. At this advanced stage, learners can also play with the language, perhaps using 'kilómetro' in creative writing to emphasize the grueling nature of a journey or the vastness of a landscape. The word is fully integrated into their active vocabulary, requiring no conscious thought to use correctly in any register, whether formal, informal, or academic.

At the C2 level, mastery of the word 'kilómetro' is absolute, encompassing all its linguistic, cultural, and idiomatic dimensions. A C2 speaker uses 'kilómetro' with the exact precision and intuition of an educated native speaker. They can engage in deep historical or scientific discussions about the metric system itself, perhaps discussing the evolution of the definition of a 'kilómetro' or its adoption across different Spanish-speaking countries. In literature, they appreciate how authors use 'kilómetro' to establish setting and tone, recognizing the subtle differences in connotation between modern metric measurements and archaic terms like 'leguas'. C2 learners can effortlessly generate and understand highly idiomatic, colloquial, or even regional expressions involving distance. They are sensitive to the rhythmic and phonetic qualities of the word, using its esdrújula stress to enhance the prosody of their speech or writing. Whether debating the socioeconomic impact of high-speed rail networks spanning hundreds of kilometers or writing a poetic essay on the feeling of being 'a kilómetros de casa' (kilometers from home), the C2 learner wields the word with complete grammatical accuracy, stylistic appropriateness, and cultural resonance. The word 'kilómetro' is no longer just a unit of measurement; it is a fully realized element of their expansive Spanish lexicon.

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas

kilómetro em 30 segundos

Unit of length equal to 1,000 meters.
Standard for distance in Spanish-speaking countries.
Abbreviated as 'km' (no period, no plural 's').
Esdrújula word: stress is on the 'o' (kilómetro).

The word 'kilómetro' is a fundamental masculine noun in the Spanish language, used universally across all Spanish-speaking countries to denote a unit of length in the metric system equal to one thousand meters. Understanding how to use this word is absolutely essential for anyone learning Spanish, as it appears in countless everyday situations ranging from driving and navigating to sports and casual conversations about distance. When you travel to Spain, Mexico, Argentina, or any other Hispanophone nation, you will immediately notice that road signs, maps, and GPS navigation systems exclusively use kilometers rather than miles. This cultural and infrastructural reliance on the metric system means that the word 'kilómetro' is not just a vocabulary item, but a crucial key to interacting with the physical world in these regions.

El próximo pueblo está a un kilómetro de aquí.

Furthermore, the abbreviation 'km' is ubiquitous, often pronounced fully as 'kilómetros' when read aloud. In the context of running or cycling, you might hear phrases like 'correr cinco kilómetros' or 'una carrera de diez kilómetros'. The pronunciation places the stress on the antepenultimate syllable, making it an esdrújula word, which is why it always carries a written accent mark (tilde) on the 'o'.

Etymology: Derived from the Greek 'khilioi' (thousand) and 'metron' (measure).

This phonetic characteristic gives the word a rhythmic, rolling quality that is very satisfying to articulate. Beyond literal distances, 'kilómetro' can sometimes appear in hyperbolic or figurative expressions, though this is less common than with words like 'miles' (thousands). For instance, saying 'está a kilómetros de distancia' can mean someone is emotionally distant or that a goal is far from being achieved. As you progress from A1 to C2, your relationship with this word will evolve from simply recognizing it on a highway sign to actively using it in complex discussions about fuel efficiency, urban planning, and athletic endurance.

Corrí mi primer kilómetro sin parar.

It is also worth noting the related vocabulary, such as 'kilometraje' (mileage/kilometerage), which refers to the total distance a vehicle has traveled or its fuel consumption rate. Mastering 'kilómetro' involves not only knowing its translation but also internalizing the metric system if you come from a country that uses imperial units.

Metric Conversion: One kilometer is approximately equal to 0.621371 miles.

This cognitive shift is a significant milestone in your language learning journey, as it aligns your spatial awareness with that of native Spanish speakers. In literature and journalism, 'kilómetro' is often used to paint a picture of vast landscapes, grueling journeys, or the sheer scale of a country's infrastructure.

Falta un kilómetro para llegar a la cima.

Whether you are reading a novel by Gabriel García Márquez or a news report from El País, the word serves as a precise, objective anchor in the text. To truly integrate this word into your active vocabulary, practice converting familiar distances in miles to kilometers, and try to visualize these distances when you speak. This mental exercise will make your use of 'kilómetro' more natural and intuitive. Remember that in plural, it simply takes an 's' to become 'kilómetros', and it must always agree in gender and number with any adjectives that modify it, although as a masculine noun, it typically pairs with 'un', 'el', 'los', 'muchos', or 'cuántos'.

El coche consume un litro por cada kilómetro.

The versatility and frequency of 'kilómetro' make it a cornerstone of functional Spanish fluency.

Abbreviation: The standard international abbreviation is 'km', without a period.

Caminamos un kilómetro bajo el sol.

By mastering this word, you open the door to clearer communication in travel, sports, and daily life across the Spanish-speaking world.

Using the word 'kilómetro' correctly in Spanish involves understanding its grammatical properties, common collocations, and the contexts in which it naturally appears. As a masculine noun, 'kilómetro' requires masculine articles and adjectives. You will say 'un kilómetro', 'el kilómetro', 'muchos kilómetros', and 'cuántos kilómetros'.

Recorrimos un kilómetro entero.

It is crucial to remember the accent mark on the 'o' (kilómetro) because it is an esdrújula word, meaning the stress falls on the third-to-last syllable. Without the accent, the pronunciation would be incorrect, and in written Spanish, omitting it is a spelling error.

Grammar Rule: Esdrújula words always carry a written accent (tilde) in Spanish.

When discussing speed, the standard phrasing is 'kilómetros por hora' (kilometers per hour), often abbreviated as km/h. Notice the use of the preposition 'por' here, which translates to 'per' in this context. If you are giving directions, you will frequently use the preposition 'a' to indicate distance: 'El restaurante está a un kilómetro de aquí' (The restaurant is one kilometer from here).

El límite es de cien kilómetros por hora.

Another common usage is with the verb 'recorrer' (to travel/cover a distance), as in 'Recorrimos cien kilómetros hoy' (We traveled a hundred kilometers today). You will also see it used with 'hacer' in colloquial contexts, like 'Hicimos diez kilómetros caminando' (We did ten kilometers walking).

Collocation: 'Kilómetro cuadrado' is used for measuring area (square kilometer).

When talking about area, the term is 'kilómetro cuadrado' (square kilometer), which is essential for geography and real estate.

El parque tiene un kilómetro cuadrado de extensión.

In the context of vehicles, you might talk about 'el cuentakilómetros' (the odometer), which literally translates to 'the kilometer counter'. It is also important to note how 'kilómetro' is used in highway markers. In many Spanish-speaking countries, locations on highways are identified by their kilometer marker, known as 'el kilómetro X'. For example, an address might be 'Carretera Nacional, kilómetro 45'.

Hubo un accidente en el kilómetro veinte.

This is a very specific and practical use of the word that you will encounter frequently if you drive in these regions. Furthermore, when discussing fuel efficiency, the metric system uses 'litros por cada 100 kilómetros' (liters per 100 kilometers) instead of miles per gallon.

Fuel Efficiency: Expressed as L/100 km in Spanish-speaking countries.

Understanding this phrasing is vital for renting cars or discussing vehicles.

Este coche gasta poco por kilómetro.

In summary, using 'kilómetro' correctly means mastering its masculine agreement, its esdrújula pronunciation, and the specific prepositions and verbs that naturally accompany it in Spanish discourse.

The word 'kilómetro' is omnipresent in the Spanish-speaking world, deeply embedded in the daily lives, infrastructure, and media of hundreds of millions of people. You will hear it in a vast array of contexts, from the mundane to the highly technical. One of the most common places you will encounter 'kilómetro' is on the road.

El letrero dice que falta un kilómetro.

Highway signs, speed limit indicators, and distance markers all rely on this unit. If you use a GPS navigation app like Google Maps or Waze set to Spanish, the voice assistant will constantly guide you using kilometers: 'En medio kilómetro, gire a la derecha' (In half a kilometer, turn right).

Navigation: GPS systems use 'kilómetros' and 'metros' exclusively in these regions.

You will also hear it frequently in sports broadcasts, particularly in athletics, cycling, and motorsports. Commentators will discuss the 'último kilómetro' (last kilometer) of a cycling stage or the speed in 'kilómetros por hora' of a Formula 1 car. In everyday conversation, people use 'kilómetro' to describe their daily commutes, their exercise routines, or the distance to a nearby town.

Corro un kilómetro cada mañana.

For example, someone might complain, 'Tengo que conducir cincuenta kilómetros para ir al trabajo' (I have to drive fifty kilometers to go to work). In the news, 'kilómetro' is used to report on infrastructure projects, natural disasters, and geography.

News Media: Journalists use 'kilómetros cuadrados' to describe the size of wildfires or flooded areas.

You might hear a news anchor say, 'El incendio ha destruido varios kilómetros cuadrados de bosque' (The fire has destroyed several square kilometers of forest).

El río tiene más de un kilómetro de ancho.

Furthermore, 'kilómetro' is essential in the real estate and tourism industries. Hotel listings will boast that they are 'a solo un kilómetro de la playa' (just one kilometer from the beach). In literature and poetry, while perhaps less romantic than older units like 'leguas' (leagues), 'kilómetro' is still used to convey a sense of modern distance and journey.

Caminó un kilómetro en silencio.

Interestingly, in Spain, the concept of 'Kilómetro Cero' (Kilometer Zero) is highly culturally significant; it is a physical plaque in the Puerta del Sol in Madrid from which all national radial roads are measured.

Cultural Landmark: El Kilómetro Cero in Madrid is a famous meeting point and tourist attraction.

Nos vemos en el kilómetro cero.

This makes 'kilómetro' not just a unit of measurement, but a point of cultural reference. Whether you are listening to a podcast, watching a movie, or chatting with a friend at a café in Buenos Aires, 'kilómetro' is a word you will encounter constantly.

When learning Spanish, English speakers and those from countries that use the imperial system often make several common mistakes regarding the word 'kilómetro'. The most prevalent error is a conceptual one: failing to convert miles to kilometers mentally, leading to misunderstandings about distance and travel time.

Pensé que un kilómetro era más largo.

If a native speaker says a town is 'a cien kilómetros', an English speaker might instinctively think of 100 miles, which is significantly farther (about 160 kilometers).

Conceptual Error: Confusing the physical distance of a kilometer with a mile.

Linguistically, a major mistake is incorrect pronunciation, specifically ignoring the written accent mark. Because 'kilómetro' is an esdrújula word, the stress must be on the 'ló' (ki-LÓ-me-tro). Many learners mistakenly place the stress on the penultimate syllable, which sounds unnatural to native ears. Another frequent grammatical error is gender mismatch. 'Kilómetro' ends in 'o' and is masculine, but learners sometimes confuse it with feminine words or use incorrect articles.

Caminamos un kilómetro (NOT una kilómetro).

You must say 'un kilómetro', not 'una kilómetro'. Additionally, when expressing speed, learners often translate 'miles per hour' directly as 'kilómetros por hora', which is correct, but they sometimes mistakenly use the preposition 'para' instead of 'por'.

Preposition Error: Using 'para' instead of 'por' when talking about speed (km/h).

It must always be 'kilómetros por hora'.

Iba a cien kilómetros por hora.

Another subtle mistake involves the abbreviation. In Spanish, the abbreviation 'km' does not take a period at the end (it is 'km', not 'km.'), and it does not take an 's' for plural (it is '10 km', not '10 kms'). Writing 'kms' is a widespread error even among native speakers, but strictly speaking, according to the Real Academia Española (RAE), the symbol is invariable.

Faltan 5 km para el próximo kilómetro de descanso.

Finally, learners sometimes struggle with the phrasing for fuel consumption. Instead of 'miles per gallon', Spanish uses 'litros por cada 100 kilómetros'.

Phrasing Error: Trying to directly translate 'miles per gallon' instead of using the metric standard.

Consume cinco litros cada cien kilómetros.

Avoiding these mistakes will make your Spanish sound much more natural and precise.

When expanding your vocabulary around the word 'kilómetro', it is helpful to understand similar and related words in the metric system and general terms for distance. The most direct relative is 'metro' (meter), which is the base unit of length in the metric system. A 'kilómetro' is exactly one thousand 'metros'.

Un kilómetro tiene mil metros.

You will also frequently encounter 'centímetro' (centimeter) and 'milímetro' (millimeter) for smaller measurements.

Base Unit: 'Metro' is the foundation of all these distance words.

If you are comparing 'kilómetro' to the imperial system, the word you need is 'milla' (mile). While 'milla' is rarely used for everyday land travel in Spanish-speaking countries, it is used in nautical and aeronautical contexts ('milla náutica').

Prefiero medir en kilómetros que en millas.

Another related concept is 'distancia' (distance), which is the general noun used to describe the space between two points. You might ask, '¿Cuál es la distancia en kilómetros?' (What is the distance in kilometers?).

General Term: 'Distancia' is the abstract concept measured by 'kilómetros'.

The word 'recorrido' (route/journey/distance covered) is also closely linked, often used when talking about the path taken over a certain number of kilometers.

El recorrido total es de un kilómetro.

For vehicles, the term 'kilometraje' is crucial; it refers to the total mileage or the number of kilometers a vehicle has been driven. You might also hear 'cuentakilómetros', which is the odometer on a dashboard. In older literature or poetic contexts, you might encounter 'legua' (league), an archaic unit of distance roughly equivalent to the distance a person could walk in an hour (about 4 to 5 kilometers).

Archaic Unit: 'Legua' is rarely used today except in idioms like 'a la legua' (from afar).

Una legua equivale a varios kilómetros.

Finally, the prefix 'kilo-' itself is important; it means thousand, which is why a 'kilogramo' (kilogram) is a thousand grams.

El prefijo de kilómetro significa mil.

Understanding these related words provides a comprehensive framework for discussing measurements, travel, and space in the Spanish language.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Informal

Gíria

Nível de dificuldade

Gramática essencial

Exemplos por nível

El hotel está a un kilómetro.

The hotel is one kilometer away.

Uses 'a' to indicate distance from a point.

Corro un kilómetro hoy.

I run one kilometer today.

Direct object of the verb 'correr'.

Falta un kilómetro.

One kilometer is left.

Uses the verb 'faltar' for remaining distance.

Son dos kilómetros.

It is two kilometers.

Plural form 'kilómetros' with the verb 'ser'.

Camino un kilómetro.

I walk one kilometer.

Simple present tense usage.

El parque tiene un kilómetro.

The park is one kilometer long.

Using 'tener' to describe length.

Veo el kilómetro tres.

I see kilometer three.

Used as a specific marker or point.

Es un kilómetro exacto.

It is exactly one kilometer.

Adjective 'exacto' modifying the masculine noun.

El límite de velocidad es cien kilómetros por hora.

The speed limit is one hundred kilometers per hour.

Phrase 'kilómetros por hora' for speed.

Mi casa está a cinco kilómetros de la playa.

My house is five kilometers from the beach.

Structure 'a [distance] de [place]'.

Ayer conduje cincuenta kilómetros.

Yesterday I drove fifty kilometers.

Past tense 'conduje' with distance.

El próximo pueblo está a un kilómetro.

The next town is one kilometer away.

Using 'estar a' for location.

La carrera es de diez kilómetros.

The race is ten kilometers long.

Using 'de' to describe the characteristic of the race.

Necesito caminar un kilómetro más.

I need to walk one more kilometer.

Using 'más' after the noun for addition.

El taxi cobra por kilómetro.

The taxi charges per kilometer.

Using 'por' to mean 'per'.

Recorrimos un kilómetro en bicicleta.

We traveled one kilometer by bicycle.

Verb 'recorrer' commonly used with distance.

El coche consume cinco litros cada cien kilómetros.

The car consumes five liters every hundred kilometers.

Standard phrasing for fuel consumption in metric.

El bosque abarca varios kilómetros cuadrados.

The forest covers several square kilometers.

Use of 'cuadrados' for area.

Hubo un accidente en el kilómetro veinte de la autopista.

There was an accident at kilometer twenty of the highway.

Referring to a specific highway marker.

Entrené durante meses para correr veintiún kilómetros.

I trained for months to run twenty-one kilometers.

Integration into complex past tense narrative.

A pocos kilómetros de aquí hay un lago hermoso.

A few kilometers from here there is a beautiful lake.

Phrase 'a pocos kilómetros de'.

El río tiene una longitud de mil kilómetros.

The river has a length of a thousand kilometers.

Formal description of geographical length.

Caminamos a un ritmo de seis kilómetros por hora.

We walked at a pace of six kilometers per hour.

Describing pace or speed.

El radar detecta objetos a muchos kilómetros de distancia.

The radar detects objects many kilometers away.

Phrase 'a muchos kilómetros de distancia'.

Se nota a kilómetros que no está diciendo la verdad.

You can tell from kilometers away that he is not telling the truth.

Figurative/idiomatic use of 'a kilómetros'.

El kilometraje del coche indica que ha recorrido cien mil kilómetros.

The car's mileage indicates it has traveled one hundred thousand kilometers.

Use of related word 'kilometraje'.

La onda expansiva se sintió en un radio de diez kilómetros.

The shockwave was felt within a ten-kilometer radius.

Technical description of a radius.

El proyecto de infraestructura añadirá cincuenta kilómetros de vías férreas.

The infrastructure project will add fifty kilometers of railway tracks.

Formal vocabulary related to infrastructure.

A pesar de estar a miles de kilómetros, seguimos en contacto diario.

Despite being thousands of kilometers away, we stay in daily contact.

Expressing contrast and long distances.

El atleta mantuvo un ritmo constante durante los últimos cinco kilómetros.

The athlete maintained a steady pace during the last five kilometers.

Narrative description of an event.

La reserva natural protege más de quinientos kilómetros cuadrados de biodiversidad.

The nature reserve protects over five hundred square kilometers of biodiversity.

Environmental and geographical context.

Reducir la velocidad a cincuenta kilómetros por hora disminuye el riesgo de accidentes mortales.

Reducing speed to fifty kilometers per hour decreases the risk of fatal accidents.

Used in an argumentative or informative statement.

La vasta llanura se extendía por kilómetros, sin un solo árbol a la vista.

The vast plain stretched for kilometers, without a single tree in sight.

Literary description of landscape.

El Kilómetro Cero en Madrid es el punto neurálgico desde donde se miden las carreteras radiales.

Kilometer Zero in Madrid is the nerve center from which radial roads are measured.

Cultural and geographical reference.

Su argumento está a kilómetros de la realidad de la situación económica actual.

His argument is kilometers away from the reality of the current economic situation.

Advanced figurative use denoting a conceptual gap.

La sonda espacial viaja a decenas de miles de kilómetros por segundo.

The space probe travels at tens of thousands of kilometers per second.

Scientific context with extreme measurements.

El trazado de la autovía requirió la excavación de un túnel de tres kilómetros de longitud.

The layout of the highway required the excavation of a three-kilometer-long tunnel.

Technical civil engineering vocabulary.

Tras caminar varios kilómetros bajo un sol abrasador, el espejismo parecía un oasis real.

After walking several kilometers under a scorching sun, the mirage looked like a real oasis.

Narrative pacing and descriptive language.

La densidad de población supera los mil habitantes por kilómetro cuadrado en esa región.

The population density exceeds a thousand inhabitants per square kilometer in that region.

Demographic and statistical phrasing.

El desgaste de los neumáticos es evidente tras apenas unos miles de kilómetros de uso intensivo.

The wear on the tires is evident after just a few thousand kilometers of intensive use.

Technical discussion of mechanical wear.

La adopción del kilómetro como medida estándar revolucionó la cartografía decimonónica.

The adoption of the kilometer as a standard measure revolutionized nineteenth-century cartography.

Historical and academic discourse.

Aunque nos separan innumerables kilómetros, la afinidad intelectual que compartimos es innegable.

Although countless kilometers separate us, the intellectual affinity we share is undeniable.

Poetic and highly formal register.

El corredor experimentó el temido 'muro' en el kilómetro treinta y cinco del maratón.

The runner experienced the dreaded 'wall' at kilometer thirty-five of the marathon.

Specific sports jargon integrated seamlessly.

La deforestación avanza a un ritmo alarmante, devorando kilómetros cuadrados de selva virgen diariamente.

Deforestation advances at an alarming rate, devouring square kilometers of virgin jungle daily.

Journalistic style with strong verbs.

Ese político tiene un discurso que se ve a la legua, o mejor dicho, a kilómetros de distancia, que es pura demagogia.

That politician has a speech that you can see from a league, or rather, from kilometers away, is pure demagoguery.

Playing with archaic and modern idioms.

La red de fibra óptica submarina se extiende a lo largo de miles de kilómetros por el lecho oceánico.

The submarine fiber optic network extends for thousands of kilometers along the ocean floor.

Highly technical telecommunications context.

Cada kilómetro recorrido en esta peregrinación es un paso más hacia la expiación espiritual.

Every kilometer traveled on this pilgrimage is one more step toward spiritual expiation.

Philosophical and religious context.

La precisión del cuentakilómetros es vital para calcular la amortización del vehículo en la contabilidad empresarial.

The accuracy of the odometer is vital for calculating the vehicle's depreciation in corporate accounting.

Business and accounting terminology.

Colocações comuns

kilómetro cuadrado

kilómetros por hora

medio kilómetro

un kilómetro de distancia

último kilómetro

kilómetro cero

recorrer un kilómetro

hacer kilómetros

consumo por kilómetro

marcador de kilómetro

Frases Comuns

a un kilómetro de aquí

cien kilómetros por hora

kilómetro a kilómetro

a pocos kilómetros

a miles de kilómetros

litros por cada 100 kilómetros

el kilómetro cero

correr cinco kilómetros

un radio de un kilómetro

el próximo kilómetro

Frequentemente confundido com

kilómetro vs kilo (refers to weight/kilograms, not distance)

kilómetro vs milla (imperial unit, different distance)

kilómetro vs metro (base unit, 1/1000th of a kilometer)

Expressões idiomáticas

Fácil de confundir

kilómetro vs

Padrões de frases

Como usar

abbreviation

The symbol 'km' is invariable. Do not write 'kms' or 'km.' in formal Spanish.

metric system

Essential for all spatial communication in the Spanish-speaking world.

Erros comuns

Forgetting the accent mark: writing 'kilometro' instead of 'kilómetro'.
Pronouncing it with the stress on the penultimate syllable (ki-lo-ME-tro).
Using the feminine article: saying 'una kilómetro' instead of 'un kilómetro'.
Writing the abbreviation as 'kms' instead of the correct 'km'.
Using 'kilo' to mean distance (kilo only means weight/kilogram in Spanish).

Dicas

Always use the accent mark

Don't forget the tilde on the 'o': kilómetro. It's an esdrújula word, so the accent is mandatory. This also helps you remember to stress that syllable when speaking.

Km, not Kms

When writing the abbreviation, just use 'km' even for plural distances. Writing '10 kms' is a common mistake, but strictly speaking, symbols don't take an 's'.

Stress the 'ló'

Practice saying ki-LÓ-me-tro. English speakers often put the stress on the 'me' (ki-lo-ME-tro), which sounds unnatural in Spanish.

Speed limits

Always use 'por' when talking about speed: 'kilómetros por hora'. Never use 'para' in this context.

Masculine agreement

Kilómetro is masculine. Always pair it with 'un', 'el', 'los', or 'cuántos'. E.g., '¿Cuántos kilómetros faltan?'

Think in metric

Try to visualize distances in kilometers rather than converting to miles. A 10k race is about 6.2 miles. 100 km/h is highway speed (about 62 mph).

Fuel efficiency phrasing

Don't translate 'miles per gallon'. Learn the phrase 'litros por cada cien kilómetros' to discuss how much gas a car uses.

Giving directions

Use the formula 'estar a + [number] + kilómetros'. 'El museo está a dos kilómetros.' This is the most natural way to state distance.

Area measurement

For large areas of land, use 'kilómetros cuadrados' (square kilometers). Remember to make 'cuadrados' plural to match 'kilómetros'.

Figurative distance

You can use 'a kilómetros' to mean 'from far away' figuratively. 'Se nota a kilómetros' means 'It's obvious from a mile away'.

Memorize

Mnemônico

A KILO of METERS makes a KILÓMETRO.

Origem da palavra

French 'kilomètre', from Greek 'khilioi' (thousand) + 'metron' (measure).

Contexto cultural

Kilómetro Cero in Madrid is a major tourist spot and geographical center.

Vast distances in countries like Argentina make 'miles de kilómetros' a common phrase for domestic travel.

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

Iniciadores de conversa

"¿A cuántos kilómetros está tu trabajo de tu casa?"

"¿Alguna vez has corrido una carrera de diez kilómetros?"

"¿Cuál es el límite de velocidad en kilómetros por hora aquí?"

"¿Prefieres medir las distancias en millas o en kilómetros?"

"¿Cuántos kilómetros tiene tu coche actual?"

Temas para diário

Describe el viaje más largo que has hecho. ¿Cuántos kilómetros recorriste?

Escribe sobre tu rutina de ejercicio. ¿Cuántos kilómetros caminas o corres a la semana?

Imagina que viajas por España. Describe las distancias entre las ciudades que visitas en kilómetros.

Explica la diferencia entre el sistema métrico y el sistema imperial en tu propia experiencia.

Describe un lugar que esté a exactamente un kilómetro de tu casa.

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

Yes, absolutely. In Spanish, 'kilómetro' is an esdrújula word, meaning the stress falls on the third-to-last syllable. According to Spanish spelling rules, all esdrújula words must have a written accent mark (tilde). Without it, the word is misspelled. It helps guide your pronunciation to ki-LÓ-me-tro.

The official abbreviation for both singular and plural is simply 'km'. You should not add an 's' to make it 'kms', and you should not add a period at the end like 'km.'. Symbols for units of measurement are invariable in Spanish. So, 10 kilometers is written as '10 km'.

It is a masculine noun. You must use masculine articles and adjectives with it. For example, you say 'un kilómetro', 'el kilómetro', and 'muchos kilómetros'. Never say 'una kilómetro'.

Since Spanish-speaking countries use the metric system, you will almost always use 'kilómetros por hora' (km/h) instead of miles per hour. If you specifically need to say miles per hour, it is 'millas por hora'. Notice the use of the preposition 'por' in both cases.

You use the preposition 'a'. The structure is 'estar a [distance]'. For example, 'El hotel está a un kilómetro' (The hotel is one kilometer away). If you want to specify from where, add 'de': 'a un kilómetro de aquí'.

No. In Spanish, 'kilo' almost exclusively refers to 'kilogramo' (kilogram), which is a unit of weight. If you say 'Corrí cinco kilos', people will be very confused. You must say the full word 'kilómetros' for distance.

Kilómetro Cero (Kilometer Zero) is a specific location in the Puerta del Sol square in Madrid. It is marked by a plaque on the ground. It serves as the geographical center of Spain and the starting point from which the distances of the country's six national radial roads are measured.

To talk about the total distance a car has driven, you use the related noun 'kilometraje'. For example, 'El coche tiene un buen kilometraje' (The car has good mileage). For fuel efficiency, you say 'litros por cada cien kilómetros'.

Yes, the metric system is the standard across all of Latin America. The word 'kilómetro' is used exactly the same way in Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and all other Spanish-speaking countries in the Americas as it is in Spain.

The adjective form is 'kilométrico'. It is often used figuratively to describe something very long, such as a 'cola kilométrica' (a kilometer-long line) or a 'discurso kilométrico' (an endlessly long speech).