vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Vacío" is a form of "vacío", an adjective which is often translated as "empty". "Presente" is a form of "presente", an adjective which is often translated as "present". Learn more about the difference between "vacío" and "presente" below.
vacío(
bah
-
see
-
oh
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (unoccupied)
2. (frivolous)
a. shallow
Puede ser la mujer más hermosa de la ciudad, pero es una persona vacía.She might be the prettiest woman in town, but she's a shallow person.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
a. void
Thelma y Louise se tomaron de la mano, y Louise condujo el coche al vacío.Thelma and Louise took each other by the hand, and Louise drove the car into the void.
b. space
Si el cable se rompe, el astronauta quedará flotando en el vacío.If the cable breaks, the astronaut will end up floating in space.
presente(
preh
-
sehn
-
teh
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
a. present
Mi hermana no estuvo presente en mi boda porque estaba dando a luz.My sister was not present at my wedding because she was giving birth.
a. current
En lo que va del presente año, las ventas han aumentado un 10%.In the current year, sales have increased 10%.
3. (education)
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
4. (time)
5. (grammar)
a. present tense
No son las conjugaciones del presente que me dan problemas, son las del pretérito.It's not the present tense conjugations that give me trouble, it's the preterite.
a. present
Le traje un presente, señor Smith. Espero que le guste.I've brought a present for you, Mr. Smith. I hope you like it.
b. gift
El embajador de India eligió un anillo de oro como presente para el presidente de Francia.The Indian ambassador chose a gold ring as a gift for the president of France.
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Por la presente le comunico que ha sido aceptado en nuestra facultad.I am writing to inform you that you have been accepted as a member of our faculty.
Por medio de la presente le informo que renuncio a mi puesto como contador.I hereby inform you that I am resigning from my position as accountant.
los presentes, las presentes
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
a. those present
La mayoría de los presentes votó a favor del nuevo presupuesto.The majority of those present voted in favor of the new budget.
