personas
/per-SOH-nahs/
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Use for Countable People
Personas is the word you use when you can count the number of people. For example, 'tres personas' (three people) or 'cien personas' (one hundred people).
Always Plural
Personas always refers to more than one person. For just one, you use the singular form: persona. For example, 'una persona' (one person).
Always a Feminine Word
The word personas itself is always feminine, so you use 'las' or 'unas' with it (e.g., 'las personas'). This is true even if you're talking about a group of men.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Personas' and 'Gente'
Mistake: "When talking about a specific number: 'En mi familia hay cinco gente.'"
Correction: Use `personas` for countable numbers: 'En mi familia hay cinco personas.' `Gente` is used for a general, uncountable group.
⭐ Usage Tips
Quick Tip: Countable vs. Uncountable
If you can put a number in front of it (two, ten, fifty), use personas. If you're talking about 'people' in general, like a crowd or 'the people of a country', gente is usually a better fit.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: personas
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly says 'There are ten people waiting'?
📚 More Resources
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).