humanos
/oo-MAH-nohs/
human beings
As a noun, 'humanos' translates to 'human beings' when referring to people collectively.
📝 In Action
Los humanos tenemos la capacidad de razonar.
A1Humans have the capacity to reason.
Se dice que los primeros humanos vinieron de África.
B1It is said that the first human beings came from Africa.
Tenemos que cuidar nuestro planeta para las futuras generaciones de humanos.
B2We have to take care of our planet for future generations of humans.
💡 Grammar Points
Collective Plural
Even if you are talking about a group that includes men and women, humanos (masculine plural) is the standard word used to mean 'all people.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Singular Too Broadly
Mistake: "El humano necesita agua."
Correction: Los humanos necesitan agua. (Use the plural when referring to the species in general.)
⭐ Usage Tips
More Formal Option
To sound slightly more formal or scientific, use seres humanos (human beings) instead of just humanos.
As a plural adjective, 'humanos' means 'human,' describing multiple things that are characteristic of humankind.
📝 In Action
Todos cometemos errores humanos.
A2We all make human errors.
El departamento de recursos humanos está contratando.
B1The human resources department is hiring.
Los cuerpos humanos son muy frágiles.
B1Human bodies are very fragile.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement Rule
When humanos is used as an adjective, it must match the thing it describes. If the noun is masculine and plural (like errores or recursos), use humanos. If the noun is feminine and plural (like cualidades), you must say humanas.
⭐ Usage Tips
Placement Tip
Most often, this adjective goes after the noun it describes: valores humanos (human values), not humanos valores.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: humanos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses *humanos* as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between *humanos* and *seres humanos*?
*Seres humanos* literally means 'human beings' and is often used in more formal, scientific, or philosophical contexts. *Humanos* is simpler, more common in casual speech, and usually means the exact same thing: people.
How do I know whether *humanos* is a noun or an adjective in a sentence?
Look at the words around it. If it has an article like *los* or *unos* directly in front of it (e.g., *Los humanos...*), it's a noun. If it is sitting next to another noun and describing it (e.g., *problemas humanos*), it's an adjective.