ajeno
“ajeno” means “belonging to someone else” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
belonging to someone else
Also: other people's, foreign
📝 In Action
No debes tomar lo ajeno.
A2You shouldn't take what belongs to others.
No me gusta meterme en asuntos ajenos.
B1I don't like to get involved in other people's business.
Ese problema es ajeno a nuestra empresa.
B2That problem is foreign to (unrelated to) our company.
unaware of
Also: oblivious to
📝 In Action
Ella vivía ajena a la realidad.
B2She lived unaware of reality.
Él seguía trabajando, ajeno al ruido de la calle.
C1He kept working, oblivious to the noise from the street.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ajeno
Question 1 of 3
What does 'vergüenza ajena' mean?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'alienus', which means 'belonging to another person' or 'foreign'. It shares the same root as the English word 'alien'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'ajeno' always negative?
Not necessarily. While it can mean 'unaware' (negative), it is also used neutrally to simply state that something belongs to another person or is outside a specific topic.
Can I use 'ajeno' to describe a person?
Yes, if you describe someone as 'ajeno a la familia', you mean they are not part of that family group.
What is the feminine form of 'ajeno'?
The feminine form is 'ajena'. You must use it if the noun you are describing is feminine, like 'propiedad ajena' (other people's property).