extraterrestres
/ex-trah-teh-RRES-tres/
aliens
As a noun, 'extraterrestres' means aliens or beings from another planet.
extraterrestres(noun)
aliens
?beings from another planet
extraterrestrials
?formal term for non-Earth life
📝 In Action
Los niños creen que los extraterrestres vienen en platillos voladores.
B1The children believe that aliens come in flying saucers.
El gobierno negó haber tenido contacto con extraterrestres en la década de los 70.
B2The government denied having contact with extraterrestrials in the 70s.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Neutrality
The singular form, 'extraterrestre,' is a noun that works for both male and female individuals. In the plural, you use 'los extraterrestres' for a mixed group or males, and 'las extraterrestres' for an all-female group.
⭐ Usage Tips
Singular Form
Remember to drop the 's' for the singular: 'un extraterrestre' (one alien).
As an adjective, 'extraterrestres' describes things that are not from Earth.
extraterrestres(adjective)
extraterrestrial
?not from Earth (plural)
alien
?describing origin (plural)
📝 In Action
Los meteoritos son rocas extraterrestres que caen a la Tierra.
B2Meteorites are extraterrestrial rocks that fall to Earth.
La posibilidad de otras civilizaciones extraterrestres es fascinante.
C1The possibility of other extraterrestrial civilizations is fascinating.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Agrees
As an adjective, 'extraterrestres' is plural and must always match the noun it describes. Since it ends in 'e' in the singular, the plural form is the same for masculine and feminine nouns.
⭐ Usage Tips
Placement
Like most descriptive adjectives in Spanish, 'extraterrestres' usually goes after the noun it modifies, such as 'fenómenos extraterrestres'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: extraterrestres
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'extraterrestres' to describe something, rather than naming the beings themselves?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I say 'one alien'?
You use the singular form, 'un extraterrestre' (masculine) or 'una extraterrestre' (feminine). The word itself stays the same regardless of gender.
Is this word formal or informal?
'Extraterrestres' is a neutral word. It is used in both serious scientific discussions and casual conversations about science fiction.