persona
“persona” means “person” in Spanish (a human being).
person
Also: individual, character
📝 In Action
Hay una persona en la puerta.
A1There is a person at the door.
Es una persona muy amable.
A1He/She is a very kind person.
Necesitamos tres personas para el equipo.
A2We need three people for the team.
El director es la persona a cargo.
B1The director is the person in charge.
La historia se cuenta desde la perspectiva de una sola persona.
B2The story is told from the perspective of a single character.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: persona
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly describes a tall man using the word 'persona'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'persōna', which originally meant 'mask', like the ones actors wore in ancient theater. Over time, it shifted from meaning the 'mask' or 'character' an actor played to meaning the 'person' themselves.
First recorded: Around the 13th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'persona' always feminine, even if I'm talking about a man?
In Spanish, all nouns have a set gender that doesn't change. It's a grammar rule, not about the actual gender of the person. Think of it like 'table' ('mesa'), which is feminine for no special reason. So, 'persona' is always 'la persona' or 'una persona', and any describing words must match it, like 'una persona amable' (a kind person).
What's the difference between 'gente' and 'personas'?
'Personas' is the plural of 'persona' and is used to talk about a specific, countable number of people ('tres personas'). 'Gente' means 'people' in a general, uncountable sense ('mucha gente' - a lot of people). A good tip: if you can put a number in front of it, use 'personas'.