ciudadano
/thiu-da-DHAH-noh (Spain) / siu-da-DHAH-noh (Latin America)/
citizen
The noun ciudadano translates to 'citizen', representing a legal member of a country.
ciudadano(noun)
citizen
?A legal member of a country or state
national
?Person belonging to a specific nation
,townsman
?Resident of a city (less common usage)
📝 In Action
Todo ciudadano mayor de edad puede votar.
A2Every adult citizen can vote.
Como ciudadano, tengo la obligación de pagar impuestos.
B1As a citizen, I have the obligation to pay taxes.
La policía buscaba al ciudadano que presenció el accidente.
B1The police were looking for the citizen who witnessed the accident.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Change
This word changes based on who you are talking about. If you mean a male citizen, use 'ciudadano'. If you mean a female citizen, use 'ciudadana'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Citizenship and Residency
Mistake: "Using 'ciudadano' when you only mean 'resident'."
Correction: A 'ciudadano' has full legal rights (like voting), while an 'habitante' or 'residente' simply lives there. Use the correct term based on legal status.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Context
You will often hear this word in formal, political, and legal settings when discussing rights and duties.
As an adjective, ciudadano means 'civic', relating to the duties and responsibilities of a person in a community.
ciudadano(adjective)
civic
?Relating to the duties, rights, or responsibilities of a person in a city or country
citizen (adj.)
?Used to describe something belonging to the citizens
📝 In Action
Es importante promover la participación ciudadana.
B2It is important to promote civic participation.
La responsabilidad ciudadana incluye cuidar el medio ambiente.
B1Citizen responsibility includes taking care of the environment.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
When used as an adjective, 'ciudadano' must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. For example, 'responsabilidad ciudadana' (feminine singular) or 'deberes ciudadanos' (masculine plural).
⭐ Usage Tips
Meaning Shift
When 'ciudadano' is an adjective, it usually refers to things that affect the whole community or government, like 'seguridad ciudadana' (public safety) or 'cultura ciudadana' (civic culture).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ciudadano
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'ciudadana' as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'ciudadano' and 'habitante'?
A 'ciudadano' is someone who has the full legal rights and duties of membership in a country (like voting). An 'habitante' is simply someone who lives there, regardless of their legal status or nationality. All citizens are inhabitants, but not all inhabitants are citizens.
How do I form the feminine version of 'ciudadano'?
The feminine version is 'ciudadana'. This applies whether you are using it as a noun (the female citizen) or as an adjective (e.g., 'participación ciudadana').