extraterrestre
/eks-tra-te-RRES-treh/
alien
This image shows an extraterrestre (alien), a being from another planet.
extraterrestre(noun)
alien
?a being from another planet
ET
?abbreviation
,space alien
?less formal
📝 In Action
Mi hermano dice que vio un extraterrestre cerca del bosque.
B1My brother says he saw an alien near the forest.
La película trata sobre un grupo de extraterrestres que invaden la Tierra.
B2The movie is about a group of aliens who invade Earth.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Stays the Same
This noun is special because its ending never changes, regardless of the person's biological gender. You use 'el' (for a male alien) and 'la' (for a female alien), but the word itself is always 'extraterrestre'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Noun and Adjective
Mistake: "Usar 'un vida extraterrestre' (mixing up noun and adjective forms)."
Correction: Use 'un extraterrestre' (the being) or 'vida extraterrestre' (the adjective). They look the same but play different roles.
The vast space surrounding the moon is extraterrestre (extraterrestrial), relating to outside the Earth.
extraterrestre(adjective)
extraterrestrial
?relating to outside the Earth
off-world
?relating to space
📝 In Action
Los científicos buscan rastros de agua extraterrestre en la Luna.
B2Scientists are looking for traces of extraterrestrial water on the Moon.
Ese fenómeno no parece tener un origen terrestre, sino más bien extraterrestre.
C1That phenomenon doesn't seem to have an earthly origin, but rather an extraterrestrial one.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement (Number)
Although the adjective does not change for gender, it must still change for number. For example: 'la roca extraterrestre' (singular rock) vs. 'las rocas extraterrestres' (plural rocks).
⭐ Usage Tips
The 'Extra' Prefix
Remember that 'extra-' means 'outside' or 'beyond.' This is a huge clue to the word's meaning, just like in English words like 'extraordinary' (beyond ordinary).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: extraterrestre
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'extraterrestre' as a descriptive word (adjective)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'extraterrestre' y 'alienígena'?
Both words mean 'alien.' 'Extraterrestre' is the older, more scientific and descriptive term, referring to anything (a being, a rock, a phenomenon) outside of Earth. 'Alienígena' (literally 'alien-born') is a synonym that is often used exclusively to refer to the being, especially in media and science fiction.