carácter
“carácter” means “character” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
character
Also: nature, strength of will
📝 In Action
Mi hermano tiene un carácter muy alegre y sociable.
A2My brother has a very cheerful and sociable personality.
Para ser líder, necesitas tener mucho carácter.
B1To be a leader, you need to have a lot of backbone (or strength of will).
Su mal carácter causó muchos problemas en la oficina.
B1His bad temper caused many problems in the office.
character
Also: glyph
📝 In Action
La contraseña debe incluir al menos un carácter especial.
B1The password must include at least one special character (symbol).
Los caracteres japoneses son complejos de memorizar.
B2Japanese characters are complex to memorize.
nature
Also: capacity, stamp
📝 In Action
El carácter confidencial de la información es vital para el proyecto.
C1The confidential nature of the information is vital for the project.
Actuó en carácter de representante legal de la empresa.
C2He acted in the capacity of the company's legal representative.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: carácter
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'carácter' to mean 'a symbol or sign'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the ancient Greek word *kharaktēr*, meaning 'engraving tool' or 'impressed mark.' This root explains both meanings: the mark that defines a person (personality) and the mark used for writing (symbol).
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'carácter' have an accent mark, but its plural form, 'caracteres,' does not?
The accent mark shows where the stress falls when we say the word. In the singular 'ca-RÁC-ter,' the stress is on the second-to-last syllable, and since the word ends in 'r' (not n, s, or a vowel), it needs the accent. When it becomes plural, 'ca-rac-TE-res,' the stress naturally moves to the 'te' syllable, which follows the standard Spanish stress rule for words ending in 's,' so the accent is no longer needed.
Can 'carácter' refer to a fictional person in a story?
No, not usually. In Spanish, when talking about a fictional person in a book or movie, you should use 'personaje' (character/figure). 'Carácter' is almost always reserved for personality or symbols.