Inklingo
← Dictionary

pública

/POO-bleek-ah/

public

A bright, sunny park scene showing several diverse people sitting together on a long wooden bench, illustrating a public space.

Showing a shared space, like a park bench, illustrates the concept of pública (public).

pública(Adjective)

fA1

public

?

open to everyone; related to the community

,

state-owned

?

related to the government or state

Also:

common

?

generally known

📝 In Action

La biblioteca pública abre a las nueve.

A1

The public library opens at nine.

La opinión pública está dividida sobre el tema.

B1

Public opinion is divided on the topic.

Ella trabaja en la administración pública.

B2

She works in public administration (for the government).

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • comunal (communal)
  • estatal (state-run)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • salud pública – public health
  • escuela pública – public school

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Agreement

'Pública' is the feminine form of the adjective 'público'. You must use 'pública' when describing a feminine noun (e.g., 'la plaza pública') and 'público' for a masculine noun (e.g., 'el servicio público').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the wrong gender

Mistake: "El calle pública (Incorrect gender match)"

Correction: La calle pública (The word 'calle' is feminine, so use 'pública').

⭐ Usage Tips

Government vs. General

In Spanish, 'público/a' often implies something is provided or run by the government (like a school or hospital), whereas in English 'public' can just mean 'open to all'.

A highly visible woman standing alone on a busy, brightly lit street corner, surrounded by many passing people, emphasizing the archaic meaning of 'public woman'.

This image depicts the archaic and offensive literal meaning of pública (public woman) by showing a woman highly visible in a crowded street.

pública(Noun)

fC2

prostitute

?

Archaic and offensive term (literal meaning 'public woman')

📝 In Action

El texto antiguo la describe como una pública.

C2

The ancient text describes her as a 'public woman' (prostitute).

⭐ Usage Tips

Do Not Use

This noun form is highly offensive and outdated. It should only be recognized for reading comprehension of older material, never used in modern conversation.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: pública

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses the adjective 'pública'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

público(public (masculine adjective/noun)) - adjective
publicar(to publish) - verb
publicación(publication) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'público' and 'pública'?

They mean the exact same thing ('public'), but they must match the gender of the noun they describe. Use 'público' for masculine things (like 'el servicio') and 'pública' for feminine things (like 'la escuela').

Why did 'pública' historically mean 'prostitute'?

This meaning stemmed from the idea that a person was 'publicly available' or 'open to all,' contrasting with the idea of a private, domestic life. This usage is now archaic and extremely offensive.