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civiles

see-VEE-lays/siˈβiles/

“civiles” means “civil” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

civil, civilian

Also: polite
A simple illustration of a stately, columned government building facade, representing civil authority and administration.

📝 In Action

Necesitamos más acuerdos civiles entre los países.

B1

We need more civil agreements between the countries.

Los derechos civiles son fundamentales para la democracia.

A2

Civil rights are fundamental for democracy.

La zona fue entregada a las autoridades civiles.

B2

The area was handed over to the civil authorities.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • militares (military)
  • eclesiásticos (ecclesiastical)

Common Collocations

  • guardias civiles – civil guards (Spanish police force)
  • guerras civiles – civil wars

civilians

Also: citizens
NounmB1
A colorful illustration showing three people—a man, a woman, and a child—dressed in casual, ordinary clothes, representing non-military civilians.

📝 In Action

La misión era proteger a los civiles en la ciudad.

B1

The mission was to protect the civilians in the city.

Hubo pocos civiles heridos durante el incidente.

B2

There were few civilians injured during the incident.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • pobladores (inhabitants)
  • gente (people)

Antonyms

  • soldados (soldiers)
  • policías (police officers)

Common Collocations

  • víctimas civiles – civilian casualties

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "civiles" in Spanish:

citizens→civil→civilian→civilians→polite→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: civiles

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'civiles' as a noun (referring to people)?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
civil(civil, polite (singular)) — Adjective
civilidad(civility, politeness) — Noun
civilización(civilization) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
fácilesdifíciles
📚 Etymology▼

Comes directly from the Latin word *civilis*, meaning 'relating to citizens' or 'belonging to the state.' It is the root of the English word 'civil' and has kept its core meaning for thousands of years.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: civilItalian: civile

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'civiles' and 'ciudadanos'?

Both refer to people, but 'ciudadanos' specifically means 'citizens' (people who belong to a country and have political rights). 'Civiles' means 'civilians' (people who are not in the military or police), often used in contrast to armed forces.

How do I say 'civilian clothes'?

You would typically say 'ropa de civil' (singular) or 'vestido de paisano' ('dressed as a civilian').