arena

sand

noun ah-REH-nah Less Common

Origin: From Latin 'harena' (sand, sandy place), which also gave English 'arena' via the sandy floor of Roman amphitheatres.

Usage Note

Arena means sand in everyday use (arena de playa — beach sand), but it is also a false friend: the English word 'arena' translates to pista or estadio in Spanish. Arenas movedizas are quicksand.

Examples

"Los niños juegan en la arena."

Natural Translation

The children play in the sand.

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