Velo or Vela? Understanding the Difference in Spanish Nouns

In this exploration, we take a closer look at two seemingly similar Spanish nouns, velo and vela, and demystify their distinct meanings and applications.

Velo (Masculine)
The less frequently used of the two, velo translates to "veil" in English, referring to a covering often worn over the head and face. Consider these examples:

• Las mujeres cubrían su cara con el velo negro. (The women covered their faces with black veils.)
• Se casó con un tradicional vestido de novia, con velo y ramillete de flores. (She got married in a traditional wedding dress, with a veil and a bouquet.)

Beyond its literal meaning, el velo is also used metaphorically:

• Hemos comenzado a levantar el velo sobre los orígenes de esta práctica. (We have begun to lift the veil on the origins of this practice.)
• Prefieren correr un velo sobre este asunto. (They prefer to draw a veil over this matter.)

Vela (Feminine)
Moving on to vela, this feminine noun boasts three primary meanings:

1. Candle
   Vela can refer to a candle, often used to create ambience or during a blackout:

   • Encendió una vela. (He lit a candle.)
   • Apagué la vela. (I put out the candle.)
   • una cena íntima con velas y música (an intimate dinner with candles and music)

2. Sail
   Vela can also describe a sail on a boat, harnessing the wind's power:

   • Las velas se hincharon al viento del océano. (The sails swelled in the ocean wind.)
   • El viento golpeó otra vez la vela con toda su potencia. (The wind battered the sail again with all its force.)

3. Sailing (Sport)
   Finally, vela can denote the sport of sailing:

   • el catamarán típico de la vela (the typical catamaran used in sailing)
   • el mundo de la vela (the world of sailing)

Join us next week as we continue to explore nouns that share identical forms but differ in endings and gender, bringing clarity to these fascinating distinctions in the Spanish language.