personajes
/pehr-soh-NAH-hess/
characters
The word personajes can refer to 'characters' in a narrative, like these three distinct figures from a story.
📝 In Action
Los personajes principales de la novela son muy complejos.
B1The main characters of the novel are very complex.
¿Cuáles son tus personajes favoritos de la serie?
A2Who are your favorite characters from the series?
El director presentó a los personajes antes de empezar la obra.
B2The director introduced the characters before the play started.
💡 Grammar Points
The Fixed Gender of 'Personaje'
Even though 'personaje' refers to people of any gender, the word itself is always masculine. You must use 'el personaje' or 'los personajes,' never 'la personaje,' even if referring to a female character.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Gender
Mistake: "La personajes son interesantes."
Correction: Los personajes son interesantes. Remember the article must match the noun's grammatical gender (masculine), not the character's real-life gender.
⭐ Usage Tips
Referring to Real People
While this meaning usually refers to fiction, you can sometimes use 'personajes' to refer to people who acted like characters in real-life historical events.
Personajes also means 'figures' or important, notable people in society.
personajes(noun)
figures
?important or notable people
,personalities
?public figures
VIPs
?very important people (informal)
📝 In Action
La conferencia reunió a los personajes más influyentes de la política.
C1The conference brought together the most influential figures in politics.
Eran personajes de gran prestigio en el ámbito científico.
C2They were personalities of great prestige in the scientific field.
Los personajes históricos de la Revolución Francesa son fascinantes.
B2The historical figures of the French Revolution are fascinating.
💡 Grammar Points
Using the Plural
Because 'personaje' ends in a vowel followed by 'e', the plural is formed by adding '-s', giving you 'personajes'. This is a standard rule for making nouns plural.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Missing the Plural Ending
Mistake: "Hablamos de los personaje famosos."
Correction: Hablamos de los personajes famosos. You must remember the '-s' on the noun when the article 'los' is used.
⭐ Usage Tips
The 'Eccentric' Meaning
Informally, if you say someone 'es un personaje' (singular), it often means they are a quirky, eccentric, or highly memorable person. 'Son unos personajes' (plural) means they are quite a colorful group.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: personajes
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'personajes' to refer to fictional figures?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'personaje' the same as 'persona'?
'Persona' means 'person' in general. 'Personaje' means 'character' (in a story) or an 'important/notable person.' While related, 'personaje' carries a sense of importance, fame, or fictionality that 'persona' does not.
Can 'personajes' be used to talk about someone eccentric?
Yes, absolutely! Saying 'son unos personajes' is a common, informal way to describe people who are very colorful, quirky, or unusual in a memorable way.