homo
“homo” means “Homo” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
Homo
Also: man
📝 In Action
El Homo sapiens es la especie a la que pertenecemos los seres humanos.
B1Homo sapiens is the species to which we human beings belong.
Se han encontrado fósiles del género Homo en esta región.
B2Fossils of the genus Homo have been found in this region.
El Homo erectus caminaba de forma erguida.
C1Homo erectus walked in an upright manner.
homo
Also: gay
📝 In Action
Es una película del circuito de cine homo.
B2It is a movie from the homo cinema circuit.
El activismo homo ha crecido mucho en esta ciudad.
C1Homo activism has grown a lot in this city.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: homo
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the correct scientific way to write our species name?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'homo' meaning 'man' or 'human being'. Note that the prefix version (meaning 'same') comes from the Greek word 'homós'.
First recorded: Ancient Latin roots; popularized in Spanish scientific texts in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the word 'homo' offensive in Spanish?
On its own, it is generally scientific or informal. However, like in English, tone matters. In casual conversation, it is safer and much more common to use 'gay' or 'homosexual'.
Does 'homo' always mean 'man'?
In Latin, yes. But in many Spanish words like 'homogéneo' (homogeneous), it comes from Greek and means 'same'. Context tells you which one it is!
How do I pluralize 'Homo' in a scientific sense?
In Spanish, when referring to species, we usually pluralize the description rather than the Latin name, e.g., 'los individuos del género Homo'.