oficiales
/oh-fee-see-AH-less/
official
This stylized seal represents something being formally authorized or recognized, illustrating the meaning 'official'.
oficiales(Adjective)
official
?authorized or recognized
,formal
?publicly accepted
authoritative
?having authority
📝 In Action
Las cifras oficiales de ventas se publicarán mañana.
A2The official sales figures will be published tomorrow.
Tuvimos que seguir las reglas oficiales del concurso.
B1We had to follow the official rules of the competition.
Los idiomas oficiales de Canadá son el inglés y el francés.
B1The official languages of Canada are English and French.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
As an adjective, 'oficiales' is plural and must match the plural noun it describes. It works for both masculine nouns (documentos oficiales) and feminine nouns (reglas oficiales).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the singular form
Mistake: "Los datos oficial son incorrectos."
Correction: Los datos oficiales son incorrectos. (The plural ending is needed because 'datos' is plural.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Contexts
Use 'oficiales' mostly in contexts related to government, bureaucracy, sports rules, or formal statements.
These two uniformed individuals represent the rank of 'officers'.
oficiales(Noun)
officers
?military, police, or nautical rank
,officials
?government or organization personnel
commissioned officers
?military context
📝 In Action
Los oficiales de la marina supervisaron la operación de rescate.
B2The navy officers supervised the rescue operation.
Los oficiales de aduanas inspeccionaron el cargamento.
B1The customs officials inspected the shipment.
Se necesitan más oficiales para cubrir el turno de noche.
A2More officers are needed to cover the night shift.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Note
While 'oficiales' is the masculine plural form, it is often used to refer to a group of officers that includes both men and women.
⭐ Usage Tips
Specific Ranks
In military settings, 'oficiales' usually means a commissioned officer, someone who holds a higher rank than a sergeant or enlisted soldier.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: oficiales
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'oficiales' as a noun (referring to people)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'oficiales' is describing something or referring to a person?
If it comes right before or after a thing (like 'documentos' or 'reglas'), it's an adjective meaning 'authorized.' If it has 'los' or 'las' in front of it and is the main subject of the sentence, it refers to people holding a rank, like police or military officers.