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forastero

fo-ras-TEH-ro/foɾasˈteɾo/

“forastero” means “stranger” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

stranger, outsider

Also: newcomer
NounmB1
A traveler with a backpack and a wide-brimmed hat standing in a quaint village square, looking at the houses.

📝 In Action

En este pueblo pequeño, todos saben quién es el forastero.

B1

In this small town, everyone knows who the stranger is.

El forastero pidió una habitación en la posada.

B1

The outsider asked for a room at the inn.

No solemos ver a muchos forasteros por estos caminos.

B2

We don't usually see many newcomers on these roads.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • extraño (stranger)
  • advenedizo (newcomer)

Antonyms

  • lugareño (local)
  • nativo (native)

Common Collocations

  • un completo forastero – a total stranger
  • tratar como a un forastero – to treat like an outsider

foreign, outside

Also: alien
A bright tropical parrot with colorful feathers perched on a snowy pine tree branch.

📝 In Action

Trajeron costumbres forasteras que nadie entendía.

B2

They brought outside customs that no one understood.

Ese acento forastero delataba su origen.

C1

That foreign accent gave away his origin.

La influencia forastera cambió el estilo de la arquitectura local.

C1

Outside influence changed the style of local architecture.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • foráneo (from elsewhere)
  • ajeno (belonging to someone else/external)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • influencia forastera – outside influence
  • gente forastera – people from elsewhere

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: forastero

Question 1 of 3

If someone from Madrid moves to a tiny village in the mountains, the locals might call him a:

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
forastera(female stranger) — Noun
foráneo(external/from elsewhere) — Adjective
afuera(outside) — Adverb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the old Spanish word 'foras', which meant 'outside'. This comes from the Latin word 'foris', meaning 'door' or 'outside'. It shares a root with the English word 'forest' (originally meaning the woods outside the town).

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Catalan: forasterFrench: forain

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'forastero' to mean a tourist?

Yes, you can, but it sounds more like you are emphasizing that they don't belong to the local community rather than focusing on their vacation.

Is 'forastero' a rude word?

Not usually. It is mostly neutral, though in some contexts, it can feel a bit exclusionary, implying 'you are not one of us'.

Is it the same as 'extranjero'?

No. 'Extranjero' is specifically for someone from another country. 'Forastero' is for someone from another town, village, or region.