espectro

Galician

Alternative forms

• espetro (reintegrationist)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /esˈpɛktɾo/ [es̺ˈpɛk.t̪ɾʊ]
• Rhymes: -ɛktɾo
• Hyphenation: es‧pec‧tro

Noun

espectro m (plural espectros)

1. spectrum
2. spectre, ghost

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• espetro (Portugal)

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *speḱ-

Proto-Indo-European *-yeti

Proto-Indo-European *spéḱyeti

Proto-Italic *spekjō

Latin speciō

Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr

Proto-Indo-European *-om

Proto-Indo-European *-trom

Proto-Italic *-trom

Latin -trum

Latin spectrumlbor.

Portuguese espectro

Learned borrowing from Latin spectrum.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /isˈpɛk.tɾu/, /esˈpɛk.tɾu/, /isˈpɛ.ki.tɾu/, /esˈpɛ.ki.tɾu/

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /isˈpɛk.tɾu/, /esˈpɛk.tɾu/, /isˈpɛ.ki.tɾu/, /esˈpɛ.ki.tɾu/
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /iʃˈpɛk.tɾu/, /eʃˈpɛk.tɾu/, /iʃˈpɛ.ki.tɾu/, /eʃˈpɛ.ki.tɾu/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /(i)ʃˈpɛk.tɾu/

• Rhymes: -ɛktɾu
• Hyphenation: es‧pec‧tro

Noun

espectro m (plural espectros)

1. spectre, ghost

   Synonym: fantasma

2. spectrum

   Um espectro de possibilidades.

   A spectrum of possibilities.

Usage notes

The form espectro is most common in Brazil. It is also used in Portugal, though less commonly than espetro.

Derived terms

• espectro autista
• espectro eletromagnético
• espectrômetro

Further reading

• “espectro”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026
• “espectro”, in Dicionário Infopédia da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Porto: Porto Editora, 2003–2026
• “espectro”, in Michaelis Dicionário Brasileiro da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), São Paulo: Editora Melhoramentos, 2015–2026, →ISBN
• “espectro”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Spanish

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *speḱ-

Proto-Indo-European *-yeti

Proto-Indo-European *spéḱyeti

Proto-Italic *spekjō

Latin speciō

Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr

Proto-Indo-European *-om

Proto-Indo-European *-trom

Proto-Italic *-trom

Latin -trum

Latin spectrumder.

Spanish espectro

Derived from Latin spectrum.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /esˈpeɡtɾo/ [esˈpeɣ̞.t̪ɾo]
• Rhymes: -eɡtɾo
• Syllabification: es‧pec‧tro

Noun

espectro m (plural espectros)

1. spectrum

   Synonym: gama

2. spectre, ghost

   Synonyms: fantasma, espíritu

   El espectro de la novia. ― The spectre of the bride.

Derived terms

• espectro de absorción
• espectro de emisión
• espectro de masas
• espectro del Sol
• espectro electromagnético
• trastorno del espectro autista

Further reading

• “espectro”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), 24th edition, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 30 October 2026