militar
/mee-lee-TAR/
soldier
As a noun, 'militar' means a soldier, a person serving in the armed forces.
militar(noun)
soldier
?A person serving in the armed forces
service member
?General term for armed forces personnel
📝 In Action
Mi tío es militar y trabaja lejos de casa.
A2My uncle is a soldier and works far from home.
El militar recibió un premio por su valentía.
B1The service member received an award for his bravery.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and People
Although 'militar' is a masculine noun referring to the person, it often refers to both men and women. For women, you might hear 'la militar' or sometimes 'la mujer militar'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'militar' and 'soldado'
Mistake: "Using 'soldado' for high-ranking officers."
Correction: 'Militar' is a general term for anyone in the armed forces (officer, private, etc.), while 'soldado' usually means a lower-ranking private.
As an adjective, 'militar' describes something related to the armed forces, like this military helicopter.
militar(adjective)
military
?Pertaining to armed forces
armed forces (adj.)
?Referring to things like equipment or procedures
📝 In Action
El servicio militar es obligatorio en algunos países.
A2Military service is mandatory in some countries.
La base militar está cerca de la ciudad.
A2The military base is close to the city.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Position
Like many descriptive adjectives, 'militar' usually goes after the noun it describes: 'un desfile militar' (a military parade).
⭐ Usage Tips
Usage Note
When 'militar' is used as an adjective, it is 'invariable,' meaning it always stays the same regardless of whether the noun is masculine, feminine, singular, or plural (e.g., 'el servicio militar', 'la base militar').
As a verb, 'militar' means to serve or participate actively in the military.
militar(verb)
to serve (in the military)
?To participate actively in the armed forces
to be active in
?To belong to and promote a political party, cause, or movement
,to campaign for
?To work towards a specific goal or ideology
📝 In Action
Ella decidió militar en el partido socialista.
B1She decided to be active in the socialist party.
Nuestro abuelo militó en la resistencia hace muchos años.
B2Our grandfather served in the resistance many years ago.
💡 Grammar Points
Meaning Shift
While literally meaning 'to serve as a soldier,' in modern Spanish, it's used much more broadly to mean actively supporting a political group or strong belief.
⭐ Usage Tips
Preposition Use
When talking about the cause or group you are active in, you almost always need the preposition 'en': 'militar en un partido' (to be active in a party).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: militar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'militar' as a noun?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'militar' is a noun or an adjective?
Look for the little words before it. If it has 'el' or 'un' (like 'el militar'), it's the noun (the person). If it comes after a noun and describes it (like 'la base militar'), it's the adjective.
Is the verb 'militar' only about the army?
Not anymore! While it started that way, it's very common today to use the verb to describe being an active member of any political party, activist group, or social movement.