Definition
The colorful part of a plant that blooms and often has a pleasant smell.
Example
Ella compró flores frescas para la mesa.
Show translation
She bought fresh flowers for the table.
Etymology
From Latin *flos, floris* ("flower, blossom"), also the root of English "flora," "floral," and "flourish." The Latin root traces to Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₃-* ("to bloom, to thrive"), making it a distant cousin of English "blow" (as in flowers blowing open).
Cultural note
Flowers carry rich symbolic weight in Spanish-speaking cultures. In Mexico, the marigold (*cempasúchil*) is iconic during Día de los Muertos, guiding spirits home. In many Latin American countries, gifting red roses signals romance, while white flowers are traditionally associated with mourning — so context and color matter. June 21 falls around the summer solstice (or winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere), a day historically celebrated across Spanish-speaking cultures with floral festivals and offerings to the sun.