guardia
“guardia” means “guard” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
guard, security officer
Also: policeman/policewoman, watchman
📝 In Action
El guardia de seguridad revisó mi mochila antes de entrar al museo.
A2The security guard checked my backpack before entering the museum.
Si hay un problema, llama al guardia que está en la entrada.
A1If there is a problem, call the guard who is at the entrance.
La guardia del palacio estaba inamovible.
B1The guard (female officer) of the palace was standing still.
duty, shift
Also: watch, on-call
📝 In Action
El médico está de guardia esta noche en urgencias.
B1The doctor is on duty tonight in the emergency room.
Mi próxima guardia es el sábado, así que no puedo ir a la fiesta.
B1My next shift is Saturday, so I can't go to the party.
Hicieron guardia en la frontera durante seis horas.
B2They kept watch at the border for six hours.
The Guard, The Force
Also: The Watch
📝 In Action
La Guardia Civil detuvo a los sospechosos en el puerto.
B2The Civil Guard detained the suspects at the port.
La guardia real es responsable de proteger a la familia.
C1The royal guard is responsible for protecting the family.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "guardia" in Spanish:
duty→guard→on-call→police officers→security officer→shift→the force→the guard→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: guardia
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'guardia' to mean 'a period of time on duty'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'guardia' comes from the Germanic term *wardōn*, which meant 'to watch' or 'to protect'. It entered Spanish through related Romance languages, carrying the core meaning of watching over something precious.
First recorded: Around the 11th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
If 'guardia' is used for both male and female officers, how do I know the person's gender?
You know the gender by the article used! 'El guardia' is a man, and 'la guardia' is a woman. The word 'guardia' itself remains the same, which is a common feature for job titles in Spanish.
What is the difference between 'guardia' and 'vigilante'?
'Guardia' is the general term for a protector or officer. 'Vigilante' is usually a private security guard or watchman, specifically someone who watches over property, often at night.