genérico
“genérico” means “generic” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
generic, general
Also: broad
📝 In Action
Usó un término genérico para referirse a todas las frutas.
B1He used a generic term to refer to all fruits.
La trama de la película es muy genérica y predecible.
B2The movie's plot is very generic and predictable.
Buscamos una solución genérica que sirva para todos los departamentos.
B2We are looking for a general solution that works for all departments.
generic, off-brand
Also: white-label
📝 In Action
Prefiero comprar el medicamento genérico porque es más barato.
A2I prefer to buy the generic medicine because it is cheaper.
Esta marca genérica de leche sabe igual que la famosa.
B1This off-brand milk tastes the same as the famous one.
¿Tienen una versión genérica de esta crema?
A2Do you have a generic version of this cream?
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: genérico
Question 1 of 3
If you are at a pharmacy and want the cheaper, non-brand version of a pill, what do you ask for?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'genericus,' which comes from 'genus' meaning 'type,' 'kind,' or 'family.' It shares the same root as words like 'gender' and 'generation.'
First recorded: 17th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'genérico' always mean 'cheap'?
In the context of products and medicine, yes, it often implies a lower price because there is no brand-name markup. However, in other contexts, it simply means 'broad' or 'all-encompassing'.
Can I use 'genérico' to talk about music genres?
Not exactly. For the categories of music (like rock or pop), you use the word 'género'. You use 'genérico' only to describe the music if it sounds very basic or unoriginal.
What is the 'masculino genérico'?
It is a grammar rule in Spanish where a group of people (like 'amigos') is referred to with the masculine form even if there are women in the group.