humano
“humano” means “human” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
human
Also: humane, mortal
📝 In Action
El cuerpo humano es una máquina increíble.
A2The human body is an incredible machine.
Cometer errores es muy humano.
B1Making mistakes is very human.
Es necesario un trato más humano para los refugiados.
B2A more humane treatment for refugees is necessary.
human, human being
📝 In Action
El ser humano es un ser social por naturaleza.
B1The human being is a social being by nature.
Los primeros humanos usaban herramientas de piedra.
B1The first humans used stone tools.
A veces no entiendo a los humanos.
A2Sometimes I don't understand humans.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: humano
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'humano' to describe a quality (like being kind or fallible), rather than just identifying something as human?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'hūmānus', which meant 'of or belonging to man'. This word is related to 'humus', the Latin word for 'earth' or 'ground'. The idea was to distinguish earthly beings (humans) from heavenly beings (gods).
First recorded: Around the 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'humano' and 'ser humano'?
Think of 'ser humano' as the complete phrase for 'human being.' While you can sometimes use 'humano' by itself as a noun ('un humano'), it's much more common and sounds more natural to say 'un ser humano' when talking about a single person.
How do I know when 'humano' means 'humane'?
It's all about the situation! If you're talking about biology or science (like 'el cuerpo humano'), it means 'human.' If you're talking about actions, feelings, or behavior (like 'un trato humano' - a humane treatment), it often means 'humane' or 'compassionate.'