guardia
/gwar-dya/
guard
A person employed as security personnel is a guardia (guard).
guardia(noun)
guard
?security personnel
,security officer
?private or public protection
policeman/policewoman
?official use, especially in 'Guardia Civil'
,watchman
?older term, night watch
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Person
When referring to the person who guards, 'guardia' is a noun that stays the same for both men and women (common gender). You use 'el guardia' for a man and 'la guardia' for a woman.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong article
Mistake: "La guardia es un hombre muy alto."
Correction: El guardia es un hombre muy alto. (Remember to match 'el' or 'la' to the person's actual gender.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Professionalism
Use 'guardia de seguridad' when referring to private security staff; this is more precise than just 'guardia'.
Working a shift or being on call is referred to as being on guardia (duty).
guardia(noun)
duty
?being on call, working a watch
,shift
?a scheduled period of work
watch
?maritime or military duty
,on-call
?medical professionals
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'De Guardia'
To express that someone is currently working their shift or is available for emergencies, use the structure 'estar de guardia' (to be on duty).
⭐ Usage Tips
Context Clue
If you see 'guardia' used after 'estar de' or 'hacer', it almost certainly refers to the action or period of duty, not the person.
A formal military or police institution can be referred to as La Guardia (The Guard).
guardia(noun)
The Guard
?military or police institution
,The Force
?collective group of officers
The Watch
?historical context
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Institution vs. Individual
When 'guardia' refers to the whole institution or organized group (like the 'Guardia Civil'), it is always feminine ('la guardia').
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: guardia
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'guardia' to mean 'a period of time on duty'?
📚 More Resources
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.