Los Reyes Magos with worksheet on Spanish nouns changing their meaning

By Maje

¡Hola! My name is María Jesús and this is my first day at MGM. So exciting!! I am going to be the new Spanish editor and I hope you enjoy my posts for this amazing blog.

Today we celebrate the Day of Reyes Magos (The 3 Wise Men) in Spain and in South and Central America (even in the Philippines!). Have you ever heard about this tradition? Children receive presents by the three “Reyes Magos” on the morning of January 6 and there is also a type of cake associated with the festival of Reyes Magos: la rosca de Reyes!

E.Solla/istockphoto

But…do you know that “rosca” also means “nut” (as in ‘nuts and bolts’) in Spanish? There are also some Spanish nouns whose meaning change with gender.  Be careful when using them! Let’s study some of them! The following list can save your life when speaking in Spanish!  😉

1. El cólera = cholera/La cólera = anger
2. El cura = Catholic priest/La cura = cure
3. El coma = coma/La coma = comma
4. El final = end/La final = championship game
5. El guía = male guide/La guía = guidebook or female guide
6. El mañana = future/La mañana = morning
7. El papa = pope/La papa = potato

Now it’s your turn! Can you complete the following sentences with the correct word (+article!) from the list above?

a)     __________ es un sentimiento negativo y hay que saber controlarlo.

b)     __________ de mi ciudad es un hombre amable y simpático.

c)     ___________ de Schumacher fue causado por un accidente de esquí.

d)     __________ de Francia que me regalaron por Reyes no es muy buena.

e)     Por ____________ he desayunado rosca de Reyes.

f)      ____________ es un ingrediente fundamental en la cocina de todo el mundo.

Answers: a-la cólera, b-el cura, c-el coma, d-la guía, e-la mañana, f-la papa

¡Hasta pronto!!

Do you celebrate the Day of Reyes Magos in your country? If not, do you have a similar festivity in your country? What do you usually do that day?

We are looking forward to reading your comments!

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