Ancho vs. amplio
The Spanish words ancho and amplio are adjectives often translated as wide or broad in English. Although they share some overlap in meaning, they have differing connotations and applications in Spanish language use.
Ancho
A2Ancho most directly translates to wide. It is typically used to describe physical dimensions of an object or space, such as the width of a road or a river.
El río es muy ancho.
(The river is very wide.)
El coche no puede pasar porque la calle es muy estrecha, no es lo suficientemente ancha.
(The car can't get through because the street is too narrow, it's not wide enough.)
Amplio
B1Amplio, while sometimes translated as wide, more commonly denotes broad or extensive, especially in a more abstract or metaphorical sense. It is often used to define capacities, like knowledge, views, or experiences.
Ella tiene un amplio conocimiento de la historia del arte.
(She has a broad knowledge of art history.)
Este libro ofrece una amplia visión del problema.
(This book offers a broad view of the problem.)
Summary
Ancho and amplio both have meanings relating to the concept of wideness or broadness. However, ancho focuses on physical breadth or width of objects or spaces while amplio is utilized more for its metaphorical implications. When talking about breadth or extensive range in an abstract sense like experiences, views or knowledge, amplio would be the appropriate choice.