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"Macizos" is a form of "macizo", an adjective which is often translated as "solid". "Vanos" is a form of "vano", an adjective which is often translated as "vain". Learn more about the difference between "macizos" and "vanos" below.
macizo, el macizo(
mah
-
see
-
soh
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (firm)
a. solid
Se construyó un muro macizo al frente de la casa.A solid wall was built in front of the house.
2. (robust)
b. well built
Javier está muy macizo por el ejercicio.Javier looks very well built because of all the exercise he does.
3. (colloquial) (attractive) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. hunky (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Brad es el hombre más macizo que conozco.Brad is the hunkiest man I know.
b. hot (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Para mí es uno de los actores más macizos que hay.I think he's one of the hottest actors.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
4. (geology)
a. massif
Escribe su tesis sobre la composición de los macizos rocosos.He's writing his thesis on the composition of rocky massifs.
a. massif
Tenemos la intención de hacer senderismo en el macizo oriental de los Picos de Europa.We intend to go rambling in the eastern massif of the Picos de Europa.
a. clump
Había un macizo de flores de colores en el centro del jardín.There was a clump of flowers of different colors in the middle of the garden.
a. solid area
La proporción de macizos y vanos de este edificio es muy elegante.The proportion of solid areas to openings in this building is very elegant.
vano(
bah
-
noh
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (fruitless)
a. vain
David intentó llamar a su hermana por teléfono en un vano intento por localizarla.David tried phoning his sister in a vain attempt to find her.
b. futile
Salí corriendo en un vano esfuerzo por agarrar el bus.I rushed out in a futile effort to catch the bus.
c. in vain
Los esfuerzos por convencer a la chica obstinada fueron vanos.Efforts to persuade the stubborn girl were in vain.
d. pointless
Es vano hablar de democracia en un país como este.It's pointless to talk about democracy in a country like this.
2. (unfounded)
a. vain
Guardas demasiadas cosas en la vana esperanza de que algún día te sirvan.You keep too many things in the vain hope that one day they may be of use to you.
b. empty
No puede ser que que el público se deje engañar por las vanas promesas de este político egoísta.The public surely cannot be taken in by the empty promises of this self-serving politician.
c. hollow
El discurso del presidente no eran más que vanas palabras, y todos lo sabían.The president's speech was nothing more than hollow words, and everyone knew it.
a. empty
Este año hubo muchas nueces decoloradas y nueces vanas.There were a lot of discolored and empty nuts this year.
4. (figurative) (literary) (dispirited)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
A word or phrase restricted in usage to literature or established writing (e.g., sex, once upon a time).
a. empty
El preso era una cáscara vana tras años de encarcelamiento.The prisoner was an empty shell after years of imprisonment.
a. vain
¿Qué te parece la nueva directora? - Parece una persona vana sin sentido del humor.What do you think of the new director? - She seems like a vain person with no sense of humor.
b. conceited
El chico vano pasó el día entero viéndose en el lago.The conceited boy spent all day looking at himself in the lake.
a. shallow
Al principio el vendedor parecía agradable, pero poco a poco me di cuenta de que era muy vano.The salesman seemed nice at first, but I gradually realized he was pretty shallow.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
