huelga
/WHEL-gah/
strike
When used as a noun, huelga means 'strike' or organized work stoppage.
📝 In Action
Los trabajadores anunciaron una huelga indefinida.
B1The workers announced an indefinite strike.
La huelga de transporte afectó a toda la ciudad.
B2The transport strike affected the entire city.
Hacer huelga es un derecho fundamental en muchos países.
B1To strike (literally: to do a strike) is a fundamental right in many countries.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Check
Since 'huelga' is a feminine noun, always use feminine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'la huelga', 'una huelga grande').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong verb
Mistake: "Me voy a huelgar. (Incorrect verb choice for striking)"
Correction: Me voy a hacer huelga (or simply: voy a la huelga). Use the phrase 'hacer huelga' (to do a strike) to mean 'to go on strike'.
⭐ Usage Tips
The action of striking
When talking about the action of striking, Spanish often uses the phrase 'ir a la huelga' (to go to the strike) or 'hacer huelga' (to do a strike), rather than having a dedicated verb like English 'to strike'.
Used impersonally in the third person singular, huelga can mean 'it is unnecessary' or 'it is redundant.'
huelga(verb)
it is unnecessary
?used impersonally in the third person singular
it is needless
?formal expression
📝 In Action
No huelga decir que el informe fue excelente.
C1It is not unnecessary to say (or: It should be noted) that the report was excellent.
Su presencia aquí huelga, ya terminamos la reunión.
C2Your presence here is unnecessary; we already finished the meeting.
💡 Grammar Points
Formal Usage
This verb form is highly formal and rarely used outside the fixed phrase 'No huelga decir' (It is not unnecessary to say), which is a polite way of emphasizing a point.
⭐ Usage Tips
Do Not Conjugate
Unless you are reading very old or formal literature, you do not need to learn the full verb 'holgar'. Just recognize 'huelga' in this context as part of the fixed phrase 'no huelga decir'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: huelga
Question 1 of 2
If you want to say 'The teachers are going on strike,' which Spanish phrase is best?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Es 'huelga' siempre un sustantivo femenino?
Sí, 'huelga' es siempre un sustantivo femenino, por lo que siempre debe usar artículos y adjetivos femeninos, como 'la huelga' o 'una huelga justa'.
Is 'huelga' related to 'vago' (lazy)?
The concepts are related! 'Huelga' comes from the verb 'holgar' (to rest or be idle). While a strike is a planned work stoppage, the root idea is a break from labor, similar to idleness, though 'huelga' carries a powerful political and social meaning.