Inklingo
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extranjero

/ehx-trahn-HEH-roh/

foreign

A vibrant red Japanese torii gate standing alone in a simple, generic green field under a blue sky, illustrating something foreign to the setting.

Use extranjero as an adjective to describe something that is foreign or not native to the location.

extranjero(adjective)

mA2

foreign

?

not from one's own country

Also:

overseas

?

describing goods or locations

,

external

?

relating to outside affairs

📝 In Action

Mi hermana estudia un idioma extranjero.

A2

My sister studies a foreign language.

La inversión extranjera es importante para la economía.

B1

Foreign investment is important for the economy.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • productos extranjeros – foreign products
  • país extranjero – foreign country

💡 Grammar Points

Matching the Noun

As an adjective, 'extranjero' must change its ending to match the thing it describes in gender (o/a) and number (singular/plural).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gender Mismatch

Mistake: "Compré una comida extranjero."

Correction: Compré una comida extranjera. (Because 'comida' is feminine.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Use After the Noun

In Spanish, adjectives like this usually come after the noun they describe: 'la película extranjera' (the foreign film).

A cartoon figure wearing a large red backpack and holding a folded map stands on a city street, clearly appearing to be a tourist or visitor.

When used as a noun, extranjero refers to a foreigner, or a person who is visiting from another country.

extranjero(noun)

mA2

foreigner

?

a person from another country

Also:

stranger

?

less common, but sometimes used to mean 'outsider'

,

visitor from abroad

?

tourist or temporary resident

📝 In Action

El extranjero tuvo que mostrar su visa en la aduana.

A2

The foreigner had to show his visa at customs.

Conocí a una extranjera muy amable en el tren.

A2

I met a very kind foreigner (female) on the train.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • forastero (outsider, visitor)
  • inmigrante (immigrant)

Antonyms

  • nativo (native)
  • local (local person)

Common Collocations

  • hablar con un extranjero – to talk to a foreigner
  • documentos del extranjero – foreigner's documents

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Changes for People

When referring to a person, you must change the ending to 'extranjera' for a woman, and 'extranjero' for a man.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'Foreign' with 'Strange'

Mistake: "Esa persona es muy extraña."

Correction: Esa persona es muy extranjera. (If you mean she is from another country. 'Extraña' means strange or weird.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Plural Form

To talk about multiple people, simply add '-s': 'los extranjeros' (the foreigners, mixed or male group) or 'las extranjeras' (the female foreigners).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: extranjero

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'extranjero' as an adjective?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

extranjera(female foreigner; foreign (f.)) - noun/adjective
extranjería(foreign affairs office; foreign status) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'extranjero' a polite word to use?

Yes, 'extranjero' (foreigner) is a neutral and standard term. It simply states that a person is not a native of the country. It is not considered offensive.

What is the difference between 'extranjero' and 'extraño'?

'Extranjero' means someone is from another country (foreign). 'Extraño' means strange, unusual, or weird. Be careful not to confuse them!