civil
/see-VEEL/
civil
Civil, meaning relating to citizens or the public.
civil(adjective)
civil
?relating to citizens or the public
,civilian
?non-military person or matter
civic
?relating to a city or citizenship
📝 In Action
La guerra civil dividió al país en dos bandos.
A2The civil war divided the country into two sides.
Todos los empleados son civiles, no hay personal militar.
B1All the employees are civilian, there is no military staff.
La sociedad civil pidió más transparencia al gobierno.
B2Civil society asked the government for more transparency.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
Since 'civil' ends in -l, it is the same for both masculine and feminine nouns (e.g., 'el código civil' and 'la guerra civil'). It only changes form for plural: 'civiles'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Civil' and 'Civic'
Mistake: "Using 'cívico' when referring to non-military life."
Correction: Use 'civil' for non-military/general citizenry matters. 'Cívico' is usually reserved for duties or behavior related to being a good citizen (e.g., 'deber cívico' - civic duty).
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Contexts
This meaning is often seen in formal or journalistic language when discussing politics, law, or social structures.
Civil, meaning relating to private law (non-criminal).
civil(adjective)
civil
?relating to private law (non-criminal)
polite
?archaic/less common usage, meaning courteous
📝 In Action
El derecho civil regula las relaciones entre particulares.
B2Civil law regulates relationships between private individuals.
El código civil es muy extenso y complejo.
B2The civil code is very extensive and complex.
Fue muy civil al responder a la crítica.
C1He was very polite (or courteous) when responding to the criticism.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Polite' Meaning
In older Spanish, or sometimes in very formal contexts, 'civil' can mean 'polite' or 'courteous,' similar to the English 'civil' when describing manners. This usage is less common today.
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on Legal Phrases
You will most often encounter this meaning in fixed phrases like 'derecho civil' (civil law) or 'registro civil' (civil registry), so learn the phrases together.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: civil
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'civil' in its specialized legal context?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'civil' change based on whether the noun is masculine or feminine?
No. Because 'civil' ends in the letter 'l,' it is one of those adjectives that stays the same for both masculine and feminine nouns. You only need to change it to 'civiles' if the noun is plural.
How is 'Guardia Civil' (Civil Guard) different from regular police?
The 'Guardia Civil' is a specific police force in Spain with a military structure that handles nationwide duties, especially in rural areas, traffic, and security, whereas the 'Policía Nacional' handles most urban policing.