humanidad
/oo-mah-nee-DAHD/
humanity
The first meaning of humanidad refers to the human race or all people collectively.
humanidad(noun)
humanity
?the human race or all people collectively
mankind
?all members of the species Homo sapiens
,the human race
?collective term
📝 In Action
La humanidad ha vivido en este planeta por miles de años.
A1Humanity has lived on this planet for thousands of years.
Necesitamos proteger el medio ambiente por el bien de toda la humanidad.
B1We need to protect the environment for the good of all humanity.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Singular
Even though 'humanidad' refers to billions of people, it is always treated as a singular noun in Spanish. Use singular verbs with it (e.g., 'La humanidad es...').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using Plural Articles
Mistake: "Las humanidad"
Correction: La humanidad. Nouns ending in -dad are almost always feminine and singular when used collectively.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Informal
In casual conversation, 'la gente' (the people) is often used instead of 'la humanidad,' which sounds more formal or philosophical.
The second meaning of humanidad is the quality of compassion, kindness, or being humane.
humanidad(noun)
humanity
?the quality of being humane, compassion, or kindness
humaneness
?kindness and sympathy toward others
📝 In Action
Mostró gran humanidad hacia los prisioneros de guerra.
B1He showed great humanity toward the prisoners of war.
La falta de humanidad en esa decisión fue impactante.
C1The lack of compassion in that decision was shocking.
💡 Grammar Points
Measuring the Quality
When talking about the degree of compassion, we often use words like 'gran' (great) or 'poca' (little) before 'humanidad,' or phrases like 'falta de' (lack of).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: humanidad
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'humanidad' to mean 'compassion'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'humanidad' always feminine?
Spanish nouns that end in the suffix '-dad' (like 'ciudad,' 'libertad,' 'verdad') are almost always feminine. You must use the feminine article 'la' with it: 'la humanidad'.
Can I use 'humanidades' in the plural?
Yes, but it changes meaning! 'Las Humanidades' (plural and capitalized) refers specifically to academic subjects like literature, history, or philosophy (The Humanities).