Length and distance vocabulary in Spanish, including common units of measurement and example sentences for everyday use.
Length and distance are fundamental concepts in both everyday life and scientific contexts. In Spanish, as in English, there are specific vocabulary words for different units of measurement, as well as terms for describing and comparing lengths and distances.
Units of Length
Spanish uses the metric system, which includes units like milímetro, centímetro, metro, and kilómetro. These are the most common units for measuring length and distance.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| milímetro | milímetros | millimeter | millimeters | Un milímetro es muy pequeño. | One millimeter is very small. |
| centímetro | centímetros | centimeter | centimeters | La regla mide 30 centímetros. | The ruler is 30 centimeters long. |
| metro | metros | meter | meters | El cuarto tiene cinco metros de ancho. | The room is five meters wide. |
| kilómetro | kilómetros | kilometer | kilometers | Corrió tres kilómetros esta mañana. | She ran three kilometers this morning. |
El cuarto tiene cinco ____ de ancho.
What is the Spanish term for 'meter'?
metros
'Meter' in Spanish is 'metro' (plural: 'metros'). The sentence means 'The room is five meters wide.'
Corrió tres ____ esta mañana.
How do you say 'kilometer' in Spanish?
kilómetros
'Kilometer' in Spanish is 'kilómetro' (plural: 'kilómetros'). The sentence means 'She ran three kilometers this morning.'
Describing Length and Distance
These verbs and expressions are commonly used when talking about how long something is or how far away something is.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| medir | medir | to measure | to measure | ¿Puedes medir la mesa? | Can you measure the table? |
| tener ... de largo | tener ... de largos | to be ... long | to be ... long | La cuerda tiene dos metros de largo. | The rope is two meters long. |
| medir ... de alto | medir ... de altos | to be ... tall | to be ... tall | El árbol mide diez metros de alto. | The tree is ten meters tall. |
| estar a ... de distancia | estar a ... de distancias | to be ... away | to be ... away | La escuela está a 500 metros de distancia. | The school is 500 meters away. |
| más corto que | más corto que | shorter than | shorter than | Este lápiz es más corto que aquél. | This pencil is shorter than that one. |
| más largo que | más largo que | longer than | longer than | El río es más largo que el lago. | The river is longer than the lake. |
Common Objects and Their Typical Lengths
These are everyday objects that people often measure or describe in terms of length.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| regla | reglas | ruler | rulers | Necesito una regla para la clase. | I need a ruler for class. |
| cuerda | cuerdas | rope | ropes | Compré una cuerda de cinco metros. | I bought a five-meter rope. |
| cinta métrica | cintas métricas | measuring tape | measuring tapes | Usa la cinta métrica para medir. | Use the measuring tape to measure. |
| lápiz | lápices | pencil | pencils | Este lápiz mide 15 centímetros. | This pencil is 15 centimeters long. |
| libro | libros | book | books | El libro tiene 25 centímetros de alto. | The book is 25 centimeters tall. |
Talking About Distance Between Places
These phrases help describe how far apart locations are.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| está cerca de | están cerca de | is near | are near | Mi casa está cerca de la escuela. | My house is near the school. |
| está lejos de | están lejos de | is far from | are far from | La playa está lejos de la ciudad. | The beach is far from the city. |
| a (number) ... de | a (número) ... de | (number) ... from | (número) ... de | El supermercado está a dos kilómetros de aquí. | The supermarket is two kilometers from here. |
| a pie | N/A | on foot | N/A | Voy a la tienda a pie. | I’m going to the store on foot. |
| en coche | N/A | by car | N/A | Llegamos al trabajo en coche. | We arrive at work by car. |
| en bicicleta | N/A | by bicycle | N/A | Prefiero ir en bicicleta por la mañana. | I prefer to go by bicycle in the morning. |
Voy a la tienda ____.
How do you say 'I'm going to the store on foot' in Spanish?
a pie
'A pie' means 'on foot.' The sentence is 'Voy a la tienda a pie.'
Summary
Understanding length and distance vocabulary in Spanish is essential for everyday communication, whether you're measuring something at home, asking for directions, or talking about travel. The key units are milímetro, centímetro, metro, and kilómetro, and useful verbs include medir, tener ... de largo, and estar a ... de distancia. With these tools, you can describe sizes and distances confidently in Spanish.
Flashcards (1 of 21)
- English Singular: millimeter
- English Plural: millimeters
- English Example: One millimeter is very small.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
