bélico
“bélico” means “warlike” in Spanish (describing an attitude or tone).
warlike, war-related
Also: military, bellicose
📝 In Action
Me encantan las películas de género bélico.
B1I love movies in the war genre.
El conflicto bélico duró más de diez años.
B2The armed conflict lasted more than ten years.
El presidente dio un discurso con un tono muy bélico.
C1The president gave a speech with a very warlike tone.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: bélico
Question 1 of 3
Which of these phrases correctly refers to 'military spending'?
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👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'bellicus', which was used to describe things related to 'bellum' (war).
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'bélico' the same as 'militar'?
They are very close, but 'militar' usually refers to the organization and soldiers, while 'bélico' refers more broadly to the state of war or conflict itself.
Can I use 'bélico' to describe a person?
Usually, no. If a person is aggressive or likes fighting, it is better to use 'belicoso' (warlike) or 'agresivo'.
Does 'bélico' always have an accent?
Yes, because the voice stress falls on the third-to-last syllable (an 'esdrújula' word), it must always have a written accent mark.