americana
/ah-meh-ree-KAH-nah/
American
This illustration represents the continents of North and South America, illustrating the meaning 'American'.
americana(Adjective)
American
?Pertaining to the continents of North or South America
,American
?Pertaining to the United States (often implied)
US
?used to describe a feminine noun from the US
📝 In Action
Ella es una cantante americana muy famosa.
A1She is a very famous American singer.
La cultura americana es muy diversa.
A2American culture is very diverse.
Compramos una motocicleta americana antigua.
B1We bought an old American motorcycle.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Agreement
As an adjective, 'americana' must match the feminine noun it describes. For masculine nouns, use 'americano'.
Capitalization
In Spanish, nationalities are usually written in lowercase unless they start a sentence.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong gender
Mistake: "El cantante americana."
Correction: El cantante americano. (The adjective must be masculine to match 'cantante'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
While 'americana' technically covers all of the Americas, in many contexts (especially outside Latin America), it is understood to mean 'from the United States'.
A blazer, or 'americana', is a smart, tailored jacket.
americana(Noun)
blazer
?A smart, often tailored jacket
,sport coat
?A less formal jacket
jacket
?General term for this type of outer garment
📝 In Action
Necesito comprar una americana para la entrevista.
B1I need to buy a blazer for the interview.
Esa americana azul te queda muy elegante.
B2That blue jacket looks very smart on you.
Dejó su americana en el perchero antes de sentarse.
B1She left her jacket on the coat rack before sitting down.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Noun
Even though it refers to a piece of clothing, 'americana' is always feminine, so you must use 'la' or 'una' with it.
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Preference
If you are in Spain, use 'americana'. In most of Latin America, 'saco' or 'chaqueta' is more common for this type of jacket.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: americana
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'americana' to mean 'blazer'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
If I am talking about a female person from the US, which word should I use?
You should say 'Ella es americana' (She is American). Remember that Spanish usually does not capitalize nationalities.
Is 'americana' used for both men's and women's jackets?
Yes. Even when referring to a man's jacket, the word itself remains the feminine noun 'la americana'. You would say 'El hombre llevaba una americana elegante' (The man was wearing an elegant jacket).