locales

/loh-KAH-les/

local

A woven basket filled with various colorful, fresh fruits like apples, oranges, and bananas. The background shows a simple, rolling green hill, suggesting produce grown locally.

"Locales" means "local" when describing multiple items, such as these locally grown fruits.

locales(Adjective)

m/fA1

local

describing multiple things

Also:

regional

as in, related to a region

📝 In Action

Las noticias locales se transmiten a las seis.

The local news is broadcast at six.

Los productos locales son más frescos y baratos.

Local products are fresher and cheaper.

Necesitamos más autobuses locales que conecten el pueblo.

We need more local buses connecting the town.

Word Connections

Synonyms

regionales (regional)
cercanos (nearby)

Antonyms

globales (global)
nacionales (national)

Common Collocations

autoridades locales – local authorities
costumbres locales – local customs

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Agreement

Since 'locales' describes more than one thing, it must end in '-es' to match the plural noun it modifies, whether that noun is masculine or feminine.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the singular form

Mistake: "Compramos productos local."

Correction: Compramos productos locales. (The adjective must be plural since 'productos' is plural.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Placement is Key

This adjective usually comes after the noun it describes: 'tiendas locales' (local shops), not 'locales tiendas'.

A simple illustration showing a row of three distinct, small commercial buildings or storefronts with large windows along a simple street.

Commercial buildings or business spaces, often referred to as 'premises,' are called "locales."

locales(Noun)

mB1

premises

business spaces or commercial property

shops

stores or small businesses

Also:

venues

places for events or meetings

offices

in the context of commercial buildings

📝 In Action

Todos los locales del centro comercial abren a las diez.

All the shops in the mall open at ten.

Están alquilando varios locales en la nueva plaza.

They are renting several commercial premises in the new square.

Necesitamos locales más grandes para nuestra empresa.

We need bigger business spaces for our company.

Word Connections

Synonyms

tiendas (stores)
establecimientos (establishments)

Common Collocations

locales comerciales – commercial premises
alquiler de locales – shop rental

💡 Grammar Points

Plural Noun

'Locales' is the plural form of the masculine noun 'local'. When referring to shops or venues, you must use the plural article 'los' (the) or 'unos' (some).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Noun and Adjective

Mistake: "Compramos en locales productos. (Mixing the noun 'locales' with its adjective use)"

Correction: Compramos productos locales. (If you mean 'local products'—use the adjective. If you mean 'in the shops'—use 'en los locales'.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Context Clues

If 'locales' has 'los' or 'unos' in front of it, it almost always means 'shops' or 'premises.' If it follows a noun (like 'gente locales'), it's describing that noun.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: locales

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'locales' as a noun (meaning 'shops' or 'premises')?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

local(local (singular) / premises (singular)) - adjective/noun

localidad(locality, town) - noun

localmente(locally) - adverb

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if 'locales' means 'local' (adjective) or 'shops' (noun)?

Look at the words around it. If it is preceded by 'los' or 'unos' (the/some) and is the main focus of the phrase, it means 'shops' or 'premises.' If it follows a noun (like 'productos') and describes that noun, it means 'local'.