hombre
“hombre” means “man” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
man
Also: guy, husband
📝 In Action
El hombre alto lee un libro.
A1The tall man is reading a book.
¿Conoces a ese hombre de allí?
A2Do you know that man over there?
Mi hombre llega a las seis.
B1My husband gets here at six.
mankind
Also: humankind, man
📝 In Action
El hombre ha logrado grandes avances tecnológicos.
B1Mankind has achieved great technological advances.
La historia del hombre es fascinante.
B2The history of humankind is fascinating.
Man!
Also: Come on!, Of course!, Geez!
📝 In Action
¡Hombre, María! ¡Cuánto tiempo sin verte!
A2Wow, Maria! Long time no see!
¡Claro que sí, hombre! Te ayudo.
B1Of course, man! I'll help you.
Pero ¡hombre!, ¿por qué no me llamaste?
B1Come on! Why didn't you call me?
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: hombre
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'hombre' to mean 'mankind' or 'humanity'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'hominem', which was a form of 'homo', meaning 'person' or 'human being'. Over time, its meaning in Spanish narrowed to primarily mean an adult male.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'hombre' and 'varón'?
'Hombre' is the general, everyday word for 'man'. 'Varón' is a more formal or biological term for 'male'. You'd see 'varón' on a birth certificate, but you'd say 'hombre' in a conversation.
Is 'hombre' related to 'hombro' (shoulder)?
It's a great question because they look so similar! But no, they are not related. 'Hombre' comes from the Latin word for 'person' (homo), while 'hombro' comes from the Latin word for 'shoulder' (humerus). It's just a coincidence that they look alike.
Can you call a woman '¡Hombre!'?
Yes, absolutely! When used as an exclamation ('¡Hombre!'), it has nothing to do with gender. You can say it to anyone to express surprise or emphasis. For example: '¡Hombre, Ana, qué sorpresa!'