almirante

admiral

noun ahl-mee-RAHN-teh Rare

Origin: From Arabic amīr al-baḥr ('commander of the sea'); one of many Spanish naval/military terms of Arabic origin.

Usage Note

Almirante is the highest naval rank in the Spanish-speaking world, equivalent to a four-star admiral. It belongs to the common-gender pattern: el almirante / la almirante (the feminine form is increasingly used as women reach senior naval ranks). The almir- prefix is the same Arabic amīr ('emir', 'commander') found in emir and, indirectly, almirante itself.

Examples

"El almirante ordenó la retirada de los buques."

Natural Translation

The admiral ordered the withdrawal of the ships.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Tener in Spanish: Why You're Hungry, Cold & 30 Years

In Spanish you HAVE hunger, cold, and 30 years — not are them. Master tener expressions like tengo hambre, tengo frío, and tengo 30 años in one rule.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Reflexive Verbs: Me, Te, Se Made Clear

Spanish reflexive verbs use me, te, se for actions you do to yourself. Master the daily-routine pattern, pronoun placement, and shifts like dormir vs dormirse.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

How to Roll Your Rs in Spanish (Even If You Can't Yet)

Roll your Rs in Spanish by building from the butter sound you already make, then adding airflow. A step-by-step method, minimal pairs, and self-check drills.

June 3, 2026 7 min read

SpanishNow

El or La? Spanish Noun Gender Rules Made Simple

El or la? Spanish noun gender is ~99% readable off the word's ending. Learn the o/a defaults, LONERS, feminine endings, and the handful of rebels to memorize.

June 3, 2026 7 min read