hábito
nounCEFR B2
What does “hábito” mean in English?
habit, routine — a repeated behaviour pattern acquired through practice
habit, routine — a repeated behaviour pattern acquired through practice (adquirir hábitos; hábitos saludables)
Example sentences
Adquirir hábitos saludables desde la infancia reduce significativamente el riesgo de enfermedades crónicas.
Developing healthy habits from childhood significantly reduces the risk of chronic diseases.
Romper un hábito arraigado requiere esfuerzo consciente y, con frecuencia, apoyo externo.
Breaking a deep-rooted habit requires conscious effort and, often, external support.
Los hábitos de consumo de los jóvenes difieren notablemente de los de generaciones anteriores.
The consumption habits of young people differ markedly from those of previous generations.
How to use it
El hábito (noun, masculine) means 'habit' — a behaviour acquired through repetition. Key collocations: adquirir/crear/romper un hábito; hábitos saludables/alimentarios/de lectura; por hábito; hábito de vida. The proverb el hábito no hace al monje (clothes don't make the man) is widely known. Distinguish from costumbre (custom/habit — more social or traditional) and rutina (routine — emphasis on regularity). Hábito also means 'habit' as a monastic garment in formal/religious contexts.
Common mistake
Hábito (acquired behaviour) ≠ costumbre (traditional/social custom). 'She has a habit of interrupting' = tiene el hábito de interrumpir or tiene la costumbre de interrumpir — both work, but hábito stresses personal acquisition. 'Out of habit' = por hábito or por costumbre. The plural hábitos (not *habitos) carries the accent.