Discover the distinct uses of cero (masculine) and cera (feminine) in Spanish, from mathematical origins to everyday waxy wonders.
Cero (Masculine)
Let's start the countdown with cero, the masculine noun meaning "zero." This number, brought from India to Western Europe by the Moors, plays a key role in mathematics and everyday expressions:
- El termómetro no supera los diez grados bajo cero. (The thermometer doesn’t get above ten degrees below zero.)
- Pasa de cero a cien en 13,2 segundos. (It goes from nought to a hundred in 13.2 seconds.)
- El Castilla y el Málaga empataron a cero. (Castilla and Málaga drew nil-nil.)
Cera (Feminine)
Now, let’s turn to cera, the feminine noun that translates to "wax." This soft, moldable substance has a wide range of applications, from beeswax to candle wax to polish:
- la cera caliente (hot wax)
- El aire olía a cera para muebles. (The air smelled of [wax] furniture polish.)
- Trabaja en un museo de cera. (She works at a wax museum.)
- un lápiz de cera rojo (a red wax crayon)
- Velas de pura cera de abeja (pure beeswax candles)
Puzzle Time: Can You Guess?
Consider these examples:
- El suelo recién encerado reluce. (The recently waxed or polished floor is gleaming.)
- Rodolfo luce gabardina en algodón encerado gris. (Rodolfo is wearing a grey cotton waxed raincoat.)
- papel encerado (waxed paper)
Answer: The verb encerar means "to wax" or "to polish."
Related Terms
The Spanish words cerilla (mainly used in Spain) and cerillo (common in Central America) refer to a "match" used for striking a flame. This connection stems from the original wax-tipped matches:
- Rascó una cerilla. (She struck a match.)
- Alejandro encendió el cerillo y lo acercó al rostro de Julio. (Alejandro lit the match and held it up to Julio’s face.)
Join us next week as we shine a light on another pair of Spanish nouns that change their meaning based on gender and ending.
