criaturas
/kree-ah-TOO-ras/
children
In some contexts, 'criaturas' refers specifically to children or young people.
📝 In Action
Las criaturas deben estar en cama antes de las nueve.
A2The children must be in bed before nine.
¡Qué ruido hacen estas criaturas cuando juegan!
B1What a noise these little ones make when they play!
💡 Grammar Points
Always Plural Feminine
Even if the group of children includes boys, 'criaturas' is always a feminine noun, so you use 'las criaturas'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Gender
Mistake: "Los criaturas están aquí."
Correction: Las criaturas están aquí. (Because 'criatura' is always feminine, even when referring to boys.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Sounding Warm
Using 'criaturas' often sounds much warmer and more affectionate than the standard 'niños', similar to saying 'my little ones' in English.
The literal translation of 'criaturas' is 'creatures' or living beings, often referring to animals.
📝 In Action
Las criaturas marinas que viven en la oscuridad son fascinantes.
B1The sea creatures that live in the dark are fascinating.
Según la leyenda, estas criaturas habitan las montañas.
B2According to the legend, these beings inhabit the mountains.
💡 Grammar Points
Literal Meaning
The original meaning of 'criatura' is 'something created.' This sense is used when referring to any living thing, from microscopic life to fantastical beasts.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
If you are reading a science book or a fantasy story, 'criaturas' means 'creatures.' If a person is talking about their family, it almost certainly means 'children.'
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: criaturas
Question 1 of 1
Which English translation best fits the sentence: '¡Qué suerte que las criaturas tienen un patio grande!'
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
If 'criaturas' is feminine, how can it refer to a group of boys?
This is common in Spanish! The word itself ('criatura') has a fixed grammatical gender (feminine), regardless of the biological sex of the people it describes. Just like 'persona' (person) is always feminine, 'criatura' is too, even if you are talking about male children.