colonial

koh-loh-NYAHL/koloˈnjal/

“colonial” means “colonial” in Spanish (Relating to colonies or the style of that era.).

colonial

Also: provincial

Adjectivem or fB1

Latin America

A white colonial-style building with a red tiled roof, large wooden doors, and a decorative balcony.

📝 In Action

Visitamos el centro colonial de la ciudad.

We visited the city's colonial center.

Este mueble tiene un estilo colonial muy elegante.

This piece of furniture has a very elegant colonial style.

Muchos países lucharon por su independencia del régimen colonial.

Many countries fought for their independence from colonial rule.

Word Connections

Synonyms

virreinal (viceregal (referring to Spanish colonial times))
colonizador (colonizing)

Antonyms

anticolonial (anti-colonial)
independiente (independent)

Common Collocations

zona colonial – colonial district/area
época colonial – colonial era
arquitectura colonial – colonial architecture

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "colonial" in Spanish:

colonial→provincial→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: colonial

Question 1 of 3

Which of these is the correct way to say 'the colonial house'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

colonia(colony / perfume) — Noun

colonizar(to colonize) — Verb

colonización(colonization) — Noun

colono(settler / colonist) — Noun

🎵 Rhymes▼

social especial final

📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'colonialis,' which comes from 'colonia,' meaning a farm or a settlement of people.

First recorded: 18th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: colonialFrench: colonial

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'colonial' change when describing multiple things?

Yes! To make it plural, you add '-es' to the end: 'los edificios coloniales'.

Is 'colonial' used to describe perfume in Spanish?

No. While the noun 'colonia' means both colony and perfume/cologne, the adjective 'colonial' only refers to things related to colonies or that historical style.

Can I use 'colonial' for people?

Rarely. Usually, we use 'colono' for a settler or person living in a colony. 'Colonial' describes objects, eras, or systems.