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colectivo

ko-lek-TEE-bo/kolekˈtiβo/

collective

Also: group, joint
A group of hands of different people working together to plant a single young tree in a park.

📝 In Action

Necesitamos un esfuerzo colectivo para limpiar el parque.

B1

We need a collective effort to clean the park.

La seguridad es una responsabilidad colectiva.

B2

Safety is a shared responsibility.

Los trabajadores firmaron un contrato colectivo.

C1

The workers signed a group contract.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • común (common)
  • grupal (group-based)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • transporte colectivo – public transportation
  • esfuerzo colectivo – group effort

collective

Also: group
NounmB2
A circle of people sitting on colorful cushions in a bright room, engaged in a group discussion.

📝 In Action

El colectivo de artistas organizó una exposición.

B2

The artist collective organized an exhibition.

Es un colectivo muy activo en la defensa de los derechos humanos.

C1

It is a very active group in the defense of human rights.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • asociación (association)
  • agrupación (grouping)

Common Collocations

  • colectivo feminista – feminist collective
  • pertenecer a un colectivo – to belong to a group

bus

Also: public transport
NounmA2
ArgentinaUruguay
A bright blue and white city bus stopped at a street corner with a simple tree in the background.

📝 In Action

El colectivo 60 pasa por aquí cada diez minutos.

A2

Bus number 60 passes by here every ten minutes.

Perdí el colectivo y tuve que caminar.

A2

I missed the bus and had to walk.

Bajate del colectivo en la próxima esquina.

B1

Get off the bus at the next corner.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • autobús (bus (General Spanish))
  • bondi (bus (Slang in Argentina))
  • camión (bus (Mexico))

Common Collocations

  • parada de colectivo – bus stop
  • subir al colectivo – to get on the bus

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "colectivo" in Spanish:

bus→collective→group→joint→public transport→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: colectivo

Question 1 of 3

If you are in Buenos Aires and need to get to the city center, you should look for a:

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
colección(collection) — Noun
colectivismo(collectivism) — Noun
recolectar(to collect/gather) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'collectivus', which describes things that are 'gathered together' or 'brought into one group'.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: collectiveFrench: collectif

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'colectivo' the same as 'autobús'?

Yes, in terms of the vehicle. However, 'colectivo' is the specific term used in Argentina and Uruguay, while 'autobús' is more common in Spain.

Does 'colectivo' always have to do with groups?

Yes. Whether it's an adjective (a collective effort) or a noun (a bus for many people or a group of activists), it always implies a group rather than an individual.

What is the slang word for 'colectivo' in Argentina?

The most common slang word is 'bondi'.