personas
“personas” means “people” in Spanish (general term for human beings, countable).
people
Also: persons
📝 In Action
Hay muchas personas en el parque.
A1There are many people in the park.
¿Cuántas personas vienen a la fiesta?
A1How many people are coming to the party?
Esas personas son mis amigos de la universidad.
A2Those people are my friends from the university.
El ascensor tiene capacidad para ocho personas.
B1The elevator has a capacity for eight persons.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: personas
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly says 'There are ten people waiting'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word `persōna`. Interestingly, `persōna` originally meant 'mask,' like the ones actors wore in ancient theater. Over time, it came to mean the 'character' an actor played, and eventually, any 'person' or individual.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between 'personas' and 'gente'?
'Personas' is for countable individuals ('dos personas', 'diez personas'). 'Gente' is for talking about people as a general, uncountable group, like a crowd ('mucha gente', 'poca gente'). A good trick is if you can put a number before it, use 'personas'.
Is 'personas' always a feminine word?
Yes, the word itself is always feminine. That's why we say 'las personas' or 'muchas personas', even if we are talking about a group of men. It's similar to how 'el problema' (the problem) is a masculine word in Spanish.
Can I ever use 'gentes'?
You almost never need to use 'gentes'. It's a very rare and specific word used to talk about different groups of people or peoples (like different cultures). For everyday use, stick to 'personas' (for counting) and 'gente' (for general groups).