Because of its distinctive gender endings, Spanish does not have many words with the same form but different meanings (true homonyms). However, there are many pairs of words distinguished only by the \u2013o and -a (and sometimes also -e) endings which are easily confused. These are known as gender paronyms.<\/p>\n
Here are some examples:<\/p>\n
el acta (f)<\/strong> \u2013 minutes, record (of a meeting) el \u00e1<\/strong>nima (f) <\/strong>\u2013 spirit, soul (religious concept) la banca <\/strong>\u2013 banking (system); bank (in a game of chance) la banda <\/strong>\u2013 gang; (music) band; strip, ribbon la bolsa <\/strong>\u2013 bag; stock exchange la calzada <\/strong>\u2013 roadway la ca\u00f1a <\/strong>\u2013 reed; cane (of sugar); (fishing) rod la cerca <\/strong>\u2013 hedge, fence la charca <\/strong>\u2013 pond la cuenca <\/strong>\u2013 basin (geographical) \u2013 La cuenca del r\u00edo (the river basin) la cuenta <\/strong>\u2013 account, bill la espina <\/strong>\u2013 thorn; fishbone la falla <\/strong>\u2013 fault (geographical) la fosa <\/strong>\u2013 grave; trench (depression in sea or land) la gesta <\/strong>\u2013 heroic deed la gimnasia <\/strong>\u2013 gymnastics la gorra <\/strong>\u2013 cap with peak See you next time, amigos.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Because of its distinctive gender endings, Spanish does not have many words with the same form but different meanings (true homonyms). However, there are many pairs of words distinguished only by the \u2013o and -a (and sometimes also -e) endings which are easily confused. These are known as gender paronyms. Here are some examples: el…<\/p>\n
\nel acto <\/strong>\u2013 action, deed, act (in a play) \u2013 En el acto = immediately<\/p>\n
\nel \u00e1nimo <\/strong>\u2013 energy, courage, spirit<\/p>\n
\nel banco <\/strong>\u2013 bank (individual establishment); bench<\/p>\n
\nel bando <\/strong>\u2013 faction, party, side<\/p>\n
\nel bolso <\/strong>\u2013 handbag<\/p>\n
\nel calzado <\/strong>\u2013 footwear<\/p>\n
\nel ca\u00f1o <\/strong>\u2013 pipe, jet<\/p>\n
\nel cerco <\/strong>\u2013 siege; rim; hoop<\/p>\n
\nel charco <\/strong>\u2013 puddle<\/p>\n
\nel cuenco <\/strong>\u2013 bowl<\/p>\n
\nel cuento <\/strong>\u2013 short story, tale<\/p>\n
\nel espino <\/strong>\u2013 hawthorn<\/p>\n
\nel fallo <\/strong>\u2013 verdict; weakness, drawback<\/p>\n
\nel foso <\/strong>\u2013 pit, hole, ditch<\/p>\n
\nel gesto <\/strong>– gesture<\/p>\n
\nel gimnasio <\/strong>\u2013 gymnasium<\/p>\n
\nel gorro <\/strong>\u2013 tight-fitting cap with no peak (eg swimming)<\/p>\n