milicia
“milicia” means “militia” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
militia
Also: citizen army
📝 In Action
Los ciudadanos formaron una milicia para proteger el pueblo.
B1The citizens formed a militia to protect the town.
La milicia local ayudó durante la emergencia nacional.
B2The local militia helped during the national emergency.
El tratado exige el desarme de todas las milicias.
C1The treaty requires the disarmament of all militias.
military service
Also: soldiery
📝 In Action
Desde joven, sintió una gran vocación por la milicia.
B2From a young age, he felt a great calling for military life.
Se retiró tras treinta años de servicio en la milicia.
C1He retired after thirty years of service in the military.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: milicia
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the correct way to say 'The local militia is small'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'militia', which originally meant 'military service' or 'warfare'. It comes from 'miles', the Latin word for 'soldier'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'milicia' used for modern-day political groups?
Yes, it is often used in the news to describe armed political or paramilitary groups that are not part of a country's official military.
Can I use 'milicia' to mean 'a soldier'?
No. Use 'un militar' or 'un soldado'. 'Milicia' always refers to the group or the profession itself.
Is the 'c' in 'milicia' pronounced like an 's'?
In Spain, it is usually pronounced like a 'th' (mee-LEE-thyah), while in Latin America, it is pronounced like an 's' (mee-LEE-syah).