centro

center; downtown

noun SEHN-troh Common

Origin: From Latin centrum, from Greek kentron, 'sharp point, pivot.'

Usage Note

Centro in everyday speech most often refers to the city center or downtown (ir al centro, 'to go downtown'). It also forms many compound nouns: centro comercial (shopping center/mall), centro de salud (health center). In Latin America el centro is the preferred term where Spain might say el casco antiguo for the historic core.

Examples

"El museo está en el centro de la ciudad."

Natural Translation

The museum is in the city center.

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