Inklingo
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militares

/mee-lee-TAH-res/

military personnel

Three uniformed soldiers wearing green uniforms and caps standing side-by-side in a line.

Military personnel, or militares, are the collective group of service members.

militares(noun)

mB1

military personnel

?

The collective group of soldiers/service members

,

soldiers

?

Armed services members

Also:

troops

?

Referring to combat forces

📝 In Action

Los militares llegaron para ayudar con el desastre natural.

A2

The military personnel arrived to help with the natural disaster.

Muchos jóvenes quieren convertirse en militares.

B1

Many young people want to become soldiers.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • jefe de los militares – head of the military
  • militares retirados – retired soldiers

💡 Grammar Points

Collective Noun

Even though 'militares' is plural, it often refers to the entire institution or group of armed forces, similar to saying 'the military' in English.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Noun/Adjective

Mistake: "Using 'los militares' when you mean the adjective 'military' (e.g., 'el coche militares')."

Correction: Use 'el coche militar' (singular adjective) or 'los coches militares' (plural adjective) instead of using the noun form.

⭐ Usage Tips

Singular Form

The singular form is 'militar,' which can mean 'a soldier' or 'military' (as an adjective). Context tells you which meaning is intended.

A heavy green military tank with a long cannon parked on a dirt field.

When used as an adjective, militares refers to something relating to the armed forces, like military equipment.

militares(adjective)

mB1

military

?

Relating to armed forces or war

Also:

martial

?

Formal description of war-like qualities

📝 In Action

Necesitan más recursos para las operaciones militares.

B1

They need more resources for the military operations.

Las bases militares están en zonas estratégicas.

B2

The military bases are in strategic zones.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • bélicos (warlike)

Antonyms

  • civiles (civilian)
  • pacíficos (peaceful)

Common Collocations

  • asuntos militares – military affairs
  • uniformes militares – military uniforms

💡 Grammar Points

Invariable Ending

The adjective 'militar' (and its plural 'militares') is one of those adjectives that works for both masculine and feminine nouns. For example, 'operaciones militares' (feminine) and 'conflictos militares' (masculine).

⭐ Usage Tips

Always Plural

Since this entry is for 'militares' (plural), remember to use it only when describing plural nouns (e.g., 'planes,' 'bases,' 'uniformes').

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: militares

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'militares' as a noun?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

militar(military (adj.), soldier (noun), to serve (verb)) - noun/adj/verb
militarmente(militarily) - adverb
militarismo(militarism) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I say 'female soldier' using this root?

You would typically use the singular 'militar' to refer to a single service member, regardless of gender. If you need to specify, you might say 'una mujer militar' or use the more common noun 'soldada' for a rank-and-file female soldier.

Is 'militares' only used for the army?

'Militares' is a general term covering all branches of the armed forces, including the army, navy, and air force.