alienígena
“alienígena” means “alien” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
alien, extraterrestrial
📝 In Action
El niño dijo que había visto un alienígena en el bosque.
A2The boy said he had seen an alien in the forest.
La televisión siempre presenta a los alienígenas como seres verdes y pequeños.
B1Television always presents aliens as small, green beings.
alien, extraterrestrial
Also: foreign
📝 In Action
Los científicos investigan la tecnología alienígena recuperada.
B1Scientists are investigating the recovered alien technology.
Encontraron una especie de planta alienígena que no requiere luz solar.
B2They found a species of alien plant that does not require sunlight.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: alienígena
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'alienígena' as a noun?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *alienus*, meaning 'of another place' or 'belonging to another,' combined with the suffix *-gena*, which means 'born' or 'originating from.' It literally means 'born elsewhere.'
First recorded: Mid-20th century (in the modern sense of extraterrestrial)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'alienígena' end in -a but can be masculine?
Words ending in -a are usually feminine, but 'alienígena' is an exception. It's an epicene noun, meaning it uses the same form for both genders. You use 'el' or 'la' to indicate the gender of the person/being, but the word itself remains 'alienígena'.
Is 'alienígena' the only word for 'alien'?
No, 'extraterrestre' is a perfect synonym and is often used in formal or scientific contexts. 'Alienígena' is more common in everyday speech and media.