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"Capitales" is a form of "capital", a noun which is often translated as "capital". "Países" is a form of "país", a noun which is often translated as "country". Learn more about the difference between "capitales" and "países" below.
la capital(
kah
-
pee
-
tahl
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (main city)
b. provincial capital (of a province)
¿Cuál es la capital de la provincia de Córdoba?Which is the provincial capital of Cordova?
a. capital
En aquel tiempo, Roma era la capital del cine europeo.Back then, Rome was the capital of European cinema.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
5. (important)
a. key
"La Gioconda" es una de las obras capitales de Leonardo da Vinci."La Gioconda" is one of Leonardo da Vinci's key works.
b. main
Cometió un error capital al dejar la universidad.He committed a main error leaving the university.
c. seminal
Tiene una influencia capital en los miembros del consejo de administración.He has a seminal influence over the members of the Board of Directors.
el país(
pah
-
ees
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (geography)
a. country
Se está invirtiendo mucho dinero en países en vías de desarrollo.A lot of money is being invested in developing countries.
China es el país más poblado del mundo.China is the world's most populous country.
2. (literary)