activo
adjectiveCEFR B1
What does “activo” mean in English?
1.(physically) active (lifestyle or person)
2.asset / active
asset / active (finance or business sense) — los activos de la empresa, activo fijo
Example sentences
Mantenerse activo no requiere ir al gimnasio; caminar rápido treinta minutos al día o subir escaleras en lugar de coger el ascensor son hábitos muy efectivos.
Staying active does not require going to the gym; walking briskly for thirty minutes a day or taking the stairs instead of the lift are very effective habits.
Aunque trabaja en una oficina y pasa muchas horas sentado, intenta mantenerse activo durante los fines de semana con caminatas y clases de baile.
Although he works in an office and spends many hours sitting, he tries to stay active at the weekends with walks and dance classes.
How to use it
Activo/a means 'active' — physically active when used in a fitness or lifestyle context (llevar una vida activa = lead an active life). The reflexive construction mantenerse activo is very common. Note a financial/accounting sense (los activos = assets) that is entirely separate — context disambiguates. The antonym is sedentario.
Common mistake
In a fitness context activo/a always refers to physical activity. The construction mantenerse activo (stay active) uses the reflexive mantenerse; using estar activo describes a current state (currently active), while mantenerse activo implies ongoing effort. The financial sense (los activos = assets) is only relevant in business or economics discourse.