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"Raíces" is a form of "raíz", a noun which is often translated as "root". "Alas" is a form of "ala", a noun which is often translated as "wing". Learn more about the difference between "raíces" and "alas" below.
la raíz(
rrah
-
ees
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (botany)
2. (origin)
a. root
Después de años viviendo en distintas partes del mundo, volvió a sus raíces.After many years living in different parts of the world, he went back to his roots.
3. (cause)
4. (anatomy)
a. root
Los detectives encontraron ADN en la raíz de su pelo.The detectives found DNA in the root of his hair.
a. root
En algunos verbos irregulares, las vocales de la raíz verbal cambian en el tiempo pasado.In some irregular verbs, the vowels of the root of the verb change in the past tense.
7. (computing)
a. root
Puedes encontrar todo lo que buscas en el directorio raíz.You can find everything you're looking for in the root directory.
el ala(
ah
-
lah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (anatomy)
a. wing (of a bird, bat or insect)
Me encontré un pájaro con un ala rota.I found a bird with a broken wing.
2. (aviation)
a. wing
La ventanilla de mi asiento daba a las alas del avión.The window beside my seat looked out over the wings of the airplane.
a. wing
El incendio empezó en el ala norte del edificio.The fire started in the north wing of the building.
4. (sports)
5. (military)
6. (faction)
a. wing
El ala izquierda del partido quería convocar elecciones.The left wing of the party wanted to hold elections.
a. eaves
El ave construyó un nido bajo el ala del tejado.The bird built a nest under the eaves of the roof.
a. leaf
Compré una mesa extensible con dos alas laterales.I bought an extending table with two side leaves.
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).
