If you want to say “both” in Spanish, you would simply say ambos when referring to two people or things where at least one is grammatically masculine, or ambas when referring to an exclusively feminine pair. You can also use los dos or las dos. In this guide, you’ll learn how to use both.
Saying “both” is a very helpful way to get more of what you like. Why choose between pares de zapatos (pairs of shoes), salsas (sauces) for your burrito, or lugares turísticos (tourist destinations) on your trip? There’s often a way to have both. Rosetta Stone’s app has a helpful Phrasebook to help you navigate common situations like shopping, dining out, and sightseeing.
Table of Contents
How to say ‘both’ in Spanish
While there are some decisions that are o…o (either…or), very often when presented with a choice, you may ask yourself ¿Por qué no los dos? (Why not both?) in Spanish. There are two ways to communicate that you don’t intend to choose between the two.
Ambos/ambas
Your go-to translation for “both” in Spanish is ambos (when at least one item you’re referring to is grammatically masculine) or ambas.
You can use ambas when both of the things you’re referring to are grammatically feminine. This is the same rule that applies to words like ellas (they, feminine), and nosotras (we, feminine) and any Spanish adjectives that modify feminine plural nouns.
- ¿Qué falda te gusta más? ¿La blanca o la azul? = What skirt do you like more? The white one or the blue one?
- Ambas me gustan, pero prefiero la azul. = I like both, but I prefer the blue one.
- Hago dos cursos por la mañana. Ambos son muy exigentes. = I take two courses in the morning. They’re both very demanding.
- Tengo dos hijas. Ambas asisten a la universidad en nuestra ciudad. = I have two daughters. Both attend the university in our city.
- Practico fútbol y esgrima. Ambos deportes son emocionantes. = I practice soccer and fencing. Both sports are exciting.
- Visité París y Roma. Ambas ciudades son increíbles. = I visited Paris and Rome. Both cities are incredible.
Los dos/las dos
It is also possible to say los dos or las dos to mean “both” in Spanish. Having more than one option when it comes to vocabulary is great for boosting the sophistication of your conversations about simple topics like shopping or activities.
If both options you’re referring to are masculine or even if only one is masculine and the other is feminine, you’ll need to use either ambos or los dos. In Spanish, the rule is that the masculine plural form includes groups of nouns with mixed genders. As with ambas, you’ll use las dos for exclusively feminine items.
- ¿Qué opción te gusta? = What option do you like?
- Las dos = Both.
- ¿Quieres este libro o ese? = Do you want thisbook or that one?
- Quiero los dos, si posible. = I want both of them, if possible.
- ¿Vas a comprar el cuaderno o la carpeta? = Are you going to buy thenotebook or thefolder?
- Voy a comprar los dos. = I’m going to buy both.
What is the difference between ambos and los dos?
Both mean “both” in Spanish, and either option will sound natural. If you want to be particularly formal, however, you might opt for ambos/ambas instead.
Need to choose between two things you want in Spanish? It’s a great opportunity to use the word “both,” particularly when ordering food in Spanish. When you can’t decide between two platos (dishes or menu items), for example, these two options equally express, “I would like to try both.”
- Me gustaría probar los dos.
- Me gustaría probar ambos.
If both postres (desserts) look too good to choose between, you might need to ask for advice. Say “I want both. Which one is more delicious?” in one of two ways.
- Quiero ambos. ¿Cuál es más rico?
- Quiero los dos. ¿Cuál es más rico?
What part of speech is ‘both’ in Spanish?
The words for “both” in Spanish can function as either a Spanish pronoun or an adjective. A pronoun replaces the noun to which you’ve already referred:
- Tenemos dos perros. Ambos son perros caniches. = We have two dogs. Both are poodles.
- Necesito dos libros, pero los dos son caros. = I need two books, but both are expensive.
An adjective modifies a noun that is explicitly mentioned. Note that the adjective placement of ambos/los dos is one of the times that the Spanish adjective precedes the noun.
- Mis vecinos tienen dos hijos y dos hijas. Ambos hijos son intelectuales y ambas hijas son muy creativas. = My neighbors have two sons and two daughters. Both sons are intellectual, and both daughters are very creative.
- Los dos cursos son interesantes, pero las dos profesoras son exigentes. = Both courses are interesting, but both professors are demanding.
How do you say ‘both…and’ in Spanish?
Use tanto…como for sentences that introduce two Spanish nouns or ideas with “both…and”. This is a great structure to use if you’re giving or receiving advice on your health in Spanish.
- Ponte protector solar tanto en verano como en invierno. = Put on sunscreen both in summer and in winter.
- Se recomienda tomar agua tanto antes de correr como después. = It’s recommended to drink water both before and after running.
- Come tanto las frutas como las verduras en cada comida. = Eat both fruits and vegetables at every meal.
Key takeaways about ‘both’ in Spanish
Now when presented with a choice or describing two objects or people, you’ll be able to say “both” in Spanish in a few different ways.
- Ambos is the masculine plural, used when at least one of the two nouns is grammatically masculine.
- Ambas is the feminine plural, when both nouns are feminine.
- Los dos/Las dos work similarly.
- “Both” can be a pronoun if it replaces the noun, or an adjective if it modifies the noun that is mentioned.
- “Both…and” is expressed with tanto…como in Spanish.
0 Commentaires