ofensiva
/o-fen-SEE-bah/
offensive
Una ofensiva can represent a planned military attack or an organized movement forward.
ofensiva(noun)
offensive
?a planned military attack or an organized campaign
push
?a strong effort to achieve something
,attack
?sports or military
📝 In Action
El ejército lanzó una gran ofensiva al amanecer.
B2The army launched a major offensive at dawn.
El equipo de fútbol tiene una ofensiva muy rápida.
B1The soccer team has a very fast offensive (attack).
La empresa inició una ofensiva publicitaria para ganar clientes.
B2The company started a marketing push to win customers.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'ofensiva' as a noun
This word is always feminine when it refers to an attack or a campaign. You will almost always see it with the article 'la' or 'una'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Not just for war
While it sounds military, you can use it for business or sports to describe a very energetic and proactive strategy.
The word ofensiva can also describe something that causes resentment or anger.
ofensiva(adjective)
offensive
?causing resentment or anger
insulting
?rude or disrespectful
,unpleasant
?referring to smells or sights
📝 In Action
Esa broma me pareció muy ofensiva.
B1I found that joke very offensive.
No quiso usar una actitud ofensiva durante la reunión.
B2He didn't want to use an offensive attitude during the meeting.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching gender
Because this is the feminine form, it must only be used to describe feminine things (like 'la broma' or 'la actitud'). If the thing is masculine, use 'ofensivo'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Ofensivo vs. Ofensiva
Mistake: "El comentario es ofensiva."
Correction: El comentario es ofensivo.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ofensiva
Question 1 of 2
How would you say 'a military offensive' in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'ofensiva' only for war?
No! While it is used in military contexts, it's very common in sports (like a team's strategy) and in business to describe a strong push or marketing campaign.
What is the opposite of 'ofensiva'?
If you are talking about defense, the opposite is 'defensiva'. If you mean something that doesn't hurt feelings, use 'inofensiva'.