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"Espíritu" is a noun which is often translated as "spirit", and "fantasma" is a noun which is often translated as "ghost". Learn more about the difference between "espíritu" and "fantasma" below.
el espíritu(
ehs
-
pee
-
ree
-
too
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (religious)
a. spirit
El espíritu de tu madre siempre te acompañará a todas partes.Your mother's spirit will be always with you wherever you go.
2. (phantom)
3. (attitude)
4. (behavior)
a. spirit
Este niño tiene espíritu de escritor, ¡qué imaginación!This child has the spirit of a writer; he has such an imagination!
el fantasma(
fahn
-
tahs
-
mah
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (apparition)
2. (threat)
a. specter (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Los fantasmas de su pasado atormentan su presente.The specters of her past haunt her present.
b. spectre (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
El fantasma de la guerra sigue presente en las calles de la ciudad.The spectre of war is still present in the streets of the city.
3. (television)
a. ghost
Si empiezas a ver fantasmas en la pantalla, mueve un poco la antena.If you start seeing ghosts on the screen, just move the antenna a bit.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
4. (colloquial) (boaster) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. show-off (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
No te creas ni una palabra de lo que dice ese fantasma.Don't believe a word that show-off says.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
