general
/kheh-neh-RAHL/
general
The single umbrella provides general shelter for everyone, illustrating the meaning of 'general' as 'overall' or 'not specific'.
general(Adjective)
general
?not specific, overall
widespread
?affecting many people or things
,common
?usual, happening often
📝 In Action
La idea general es buena, pero los detalles son complicados.
A2The general idea is good, but the details are complicated.
En general, me gusta la comida española.
A1In general, I like Spanish food.
Hay una preocupación general por el cambio climático.
B1There is a widespread concern about climate change.
💡 Grammar Points
One Form for Masculine & Feminine
Unlike many Spanish adjectives, 'general' doesn't change its ending for masculine or feminine things. It's 'el problema general' (a masculine thing) and 'la idea general' (a feminine thing).
Making it Plural
To talk about more than one thing, just add '-es' to the end: 'los problemas generales' or 'las ideas generales'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Trying to Make it Feminine
Mistake: "La idea generala es buena."
Correction: La idea general es buena. Remember, the word 'general' stays the same whether the thing it describes is masculine or feminine.
⭐ Usage Tips
Your Go-To Phrase for Generalizing
The phrase 'en general' (in general) is incredibly useful for starting a sentence when you're making a broad statement. For example: 'En general, los veranos aquí son calurosos.'
This illustration depicts a general, a high-ranking military officer.
📝 In Action
El general dio la orden de avanzar.
B1The general gave the order to advance.
La general es la oficial de más alto rango en la base.
B2The (female) general is the highest-ranking officer on the base.
Se reunieron con el General Rodríguez para discutir la estrategia.
B1They met with General Rodríguez to discuss the strategy.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender for People
To talk about a general, the word itself doesn't change, but the little word before it does: 'el general' for a man and 'la general' for a woman.
❌ Common Pitfalls
The 'Generala' Confusion
Mistake: "La esposa del general es la generala."
Correction: This isn't exactly a mistake, but it's old-fashioned. 'La generala' used to mean 'the general's wife'. Today, for a woman who is a general, 'la general' is the most common and recommended term, though some people might also say 'la generala'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using it as a Title
When you use 'general' as a title right before someone's name, it's usually capitalized, just like in English. For example, 'el General San Martín'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: general
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'general' to mean a military leader?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'general' and 'común'?
They can be very similar! Use 'general' for something that applies to a whole group or is an overall concept, like 'la idea general' (the overall idea). Use 'común' for something that is shared or happens frequently, like 'un problema común' (a common problem). Often, you could use either, but 'general' feels a bit broader.
Does 'general' always come after the noun it describes?
Not always! While it's common to see it after the noun ('una regla general'), it can sometimes come before for emphasis, though this is less frequent. The most important thing to remember is that in phrases like 'en general', it stands on its own.