Definition
The inner self or spirit of a person; also used to mean the heart or essence of something.
Example
Ella pone el alma en todo lo que hace.
Show translation
She puts her heart and soul into everything she does.
Etymology
From Latin *anima* ("breath, life, soul"), via Vulgar Latin *alma*. The shift from *anima* to *alma* in Spanish reflects the influence of Arabic *al-rūḥ* (soul) during the Moorish period, though the word itself remained Latinate in form. *Anima* is also the root of English "animal" and "animate."
Cultural note
*Alma* carries deep emotional weight in Spanish-speaking cultures and appears constantly in music, poetry, and everyday speech. Phrases like *con toda el alma* ("with all my soul") or *me llegó al alma* ("it moved me deeply / it touched my soul") are very common. Note the grammatical quirk: though *alma* is feminine, it takes the masculine article *el* in the singular (*el alma*) to avoid the double-vowel clash — just like *el agua*.