Inklingo
← Dictionary

adultos

/ah-DOOL-tohs/

adults

A colorful storybook illustration showing a tall man and a tall woman standing together and smiling, representing fully grown people.

Adults are people who are fully grown.

adultos(Noun)

mA1

adults

?

people who are fully grown

,

grown-ups

?

common term for mature individuals

📝 In Action

La entrada para niños es gratis, pero los adultos pagan diez euros.

A1

Entry for children is free, but adults pay ten euros.

Necesitamos tres adultos para supervisar la excursión escolar.

A2

We need three grown-ups to supervise the school trip.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • niños (children)
  • jóvenes (young people)

Common Collocations

  • solo para adultos – for adults only
  • responsabilidades de adultos – adult responsibilities

💡 Grammar Points

The Universal Plural Rule

In Spanish, if you are talking about a group that includes both men (hombres) and women (mujeres), you always use the masculine plural form ('adultos') to refer to everyone.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Feminine Plural for Mixed Groups

Mistake: "Las adultas están esperando."

Correction: Los adultos están esperando. (Use 'adultas' only if the group is exclusively female.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Simple Reference

If you are unsure of the gender composition of a group of grown-ups, using 'los adultos' is always correct and natural.

A storybook illustration showing a serious, closed, dark leather-bound book resting on a small wooden table, symbolizing content or themes intended for mature audiences.

The adjective 'adulto' describes content or themes intended for mature audiences.

adultos(Adjective)

mB1

adult

?

describing content or themes

📝 In Action

Esta película tiene temas adultos y no es apropiada para niños.

B1

This movie has adult themes and is not appropriate for children.

Los problemas adultos requieren soluciones complejas.

B2

Adult problems require complex solutions.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • maduros (mature)

Antonyms

  • infantiles (childish)

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Agreement

Like all Spanish adjectives, 'adultos' must match the noun it describes in number (plural) and gender (masculine). For example, 'temas' (themes) is masculine plural, so we use 'adultos'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Incorrect Gender Agreement

Mistake: "Vimos escenas adultas en la película."

Correction: Vimos escenas adultas en la película. (Wait! 'Escenas' is feminine plural, so you must use 'adultas', not 'adultos'.)

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: adultos

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'adultos' (the noun) to refer to a mixed group of men and women?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

adulto(adult (singular, masculine)) - noun
adulta(adult (singular, feminine)) - noun
adultez(adulthood) - noun
adolescencia(adolescence) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'adultos' used for a group of men and women instead of 'adultas'?

This is a basic rule of Spanish grammar: the masculine plural form (like 'adultos') is the default form used to refer to any mixed-gender group or when the gender composition is unknown. 'Adultas' is only used if every single person in the group is female.

What is the singular form of 'adultos'?

The singular form is 'adulto' (masculine) or 'adulta' (feminine).