adulto
“adulto” means “adult” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
adult
Also: grown-up
📝 In Action
Necesitas ser un adulto para firmar este contrato.
A1You need to be an adult to sign this contract.
La entrada para los adultos cuesta diez euros.
A1The ticket for the adults costs ten euros.
Cuando era niño, pensaba que ser adulto era fácil.
A2When I was a child, I thought being a grown-up was easy.
adult
Also: mature, grown-up
📝 In Action
Este programa tiene contenido adulto, no es para niños.
A2This program has adult content; it is not for children.
Ella tomó una decisión muy adulta sobre su futuro.
B1She made a very mature decision about her future.
Necesitamos tener una conversación adulta sobre este problema.
B2We need to have a grown-up conversation about this problem.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: adulto
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'adulto' as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Latin word *adultus*, which means 'grown' or 'having grown up.' It is related to the Latin verb *adolescere*, which is the root for the Spanish word 'adolescente' (teenager).
First recorded: 15th century (in Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I say 'adulthood'?
You use the related noun 'la adultez' (feminine) to mean the state or period of being an adult.
If I am talking about a group of people, should I use 'adultos' or 'adultas'?
If the group is all women, use 'adultas.' If the group is all men, or if it is a mixed group of men and women, use the masculine plural form, 'adultos'.