adultos
“adultos” means “adults” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
adults, grown-ups
📝 In Action
La entrada para niños es gratis, pero los adultos pagan diez euros.
A1Entry for children is free, but adults pay ten euros.
Necesitamos tres adultos para supervisar la excursión escolar.
A2We need three grown-ups to supervise the school trip.
adult
📝 In Action
Esta película tiene temas adultos y no es apropiada para niños.
B1This movie has adult themes and is not appropriate for children.
Los problemas adultos requieren soluciones complejas.
B2Adult problems require complex solutions.
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✏️ 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▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Latin word *adultus*, which means 'grown up' or 'having grown'. It is the past form of the Latin verb *adolescere*, meaning 'to grow up' (which also gives us 'adolescence').
First recorded: 15th century (as 'adulto')
Cognates (Related words)
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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).