🔺 Shapes - Formas

Aa ⏱ ≈ 14 minutes

Beginner Spanish · Shapes and descriptions

Shapes in Spanish

Shapes are everywhere once you start looking for them. Learn the words for a few common shapes, then use them to describe tables, windows, screens, boxes, and other everyday objects.

Your next small win: name common shapes, ask what shape something is, and describe an object with the correct shape adjective.

Start with the shape itself

Common Shape Words

These words are nouns. Use them when you are naming the shape itself.

círculo Circle
cuadrado Square
triángulo Triangle
rectángulo Rectangle
óvalo Oval
estrella Star

Name the shape

You are looking at a circle. Say “It is a circle” in Spanish.

Now describe the object

Shape Adjectives

Naming a shape and describing the shape of an object are related, but they are not always the same sentence.

redondo / redonda Round
cuadrado / cuadrada Square
rectangular Rectangular
ovalado / ovalada Oval
triangular Triangular
curvo / curva Curved
Name or describe?

Es un círculo. names the shape.
La mesa es redonda. describes the table.

Describe the table

The table is round. Complete the sentence La mesa es...

Make the adjective match

Shape Agreement

Some shape adjectives change to match gender and number. Others keep the same masculine and feminine form.

Adjectives ending in -o

el espejo redondo The round mirror Espejo is masculine, so use redondo.
la mesa redonda The round table Mesa is feminine, so use redonda.
las mesas redondas The round tables The adjective also becomes plural.
Rectangular and triangular

Adjectives such as rectangular and triangular use the same singular form with masculine and feminine nouns. Their plural forms add -es.

una ventana rectangular A rectangular window
un cuadro rectangular A rectangular picture
dos ventanas rectangulares Two rectangular windows

Make square match ventana

Ventana is feminine. Complete La ventana es... with the correct form of “square.”

Look around you

Shapes in Everyday Objects

You do not need a geometry book to practice shapes. Plates, windows, screens, mirrors, boxes, and tables give you plenty to describe.

El plato es redondo. The plate is round.
La ventana de la cocina es cuadrada. The kitchen window is square.
La pantalla del televisor es rectangular. The television screen is rectangular.
Tenemos un espejo ovalado en el pasillo. We have an oval mirror in the hallway.

Ask about shape

¿Qué forma tiene? What shape is it?
¿Qué forma tiene la mesa? What shape is the table?
¿Es redondo o cuadrado? Is it round or square?

Ask and answer

Imagine a rectangular box. Ask what shape it is, then answer.

More shape descriptions
Cortamos la pizza redonda en ocho porciones. We cut the round pizza into eight slices.
El cuadro rectangular está encima del sofá. The rectangular picture is above the sofa.
Los niños dibujaron estrellas en sus cuadernos. The children drew stars in their notebooks.
El techo tiene una forma triangular. The roof has a triangular shape.

Put the shapes into conversation

Everyday Conversations

Shape words are especially useful when choosing between objects or describing something another person cannot see.

Choosing a table

A
¿Prefiere una mesa redonda o cuadrada? Do you prefer a round or square table?
B
Prefiero una mesa redonda porque ocupa menos espacio. I prefer a round table because it takes up less space.

Describing a box

A
¿Qué forma tiene la caja? What shape is the box?
B
Es rectangular y bastante grande. It is rectangular and quite large.

Your turn · 8 quick questions

Practice: Shapes and Descriptions

Choose the shape word or description that fits each situation. The questions focus on the main vocabulary and agreement patterns from the lesson.

Audio uses your device's Spanish text-to-speech voice. Listen to the word or sentence, then try saying it yourself.