oriental
“oriental” means “eastern” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
eastern
Also: Oriental
📝 In Action
Japón es un país oriental.
A2Japan is an eastern country.
Me encanta la comida oriental.
A2I love Eastern/Asian food.
Uruguayan
Also: Easterner
📝 In Action
Los orientales están orgullosos de su país.
B1The Uruguayans are proud of their country.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: oriental
Question 1 of 2
If you are reading a history book about Uruguay, who are 'los orientales'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'orientalis', which comes from 'oriri' meaning 'to rise'. It refers to the part of the sky where the sun rises.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'oriental' offensive in Spanish?
No. Unlike in some English-speaking contexts where it can be seen as dated or insensitive when describing people, 'oriental' remains a standard, neutral, and polite term in Spanish to describe things and people from East Asia.
Does the word change if I'm talking about a female student?
No, the word stays exactly the same. You would say 'la estudiante oriental'.