político
/poh-LEE-tee-koh/
politician
The noun político refers to a politician, a person involved in public policy or government.
político(noun)
politician
?a person involved in government or public policy
statesman
?a respected, experienced political leader
📝 In Action
El político prometió mejorar la educación.
A2The politician promised to improve education.
¿Quién es tu político favorito en el congreso?
B1Who is your favorite politician in congress?
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Agreement for People
Remember that 'político' refers specifically to a man. If you are talking about a female politician, you must use 'la política'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing the Person and the Field
Mistake: "Hablo de la política de mi país. (Meaning: I talk about the politician of my country.)"
Correction: Hablo del político de mi país. (The word 'política' by itself usually means 'politics' or 'policy', not the person.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Using the Feminine Form
Even if the person is generally known as a politician, when referring to her specifically, use 'la política' (e.g., 'Ella es una política muy inteligente').
As an adjective, político means political, relating to government or public affairs.
📝 In Action
La situación política es muy complicada.
A1The political situation is very complicated.
Necesitamos un cambio político grande.
A2We need a big political change.
Ella pertenece a un partido político pequeño.
B1She belongs to a small political party.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
As an adjective, 'político' must change its ending to match the noun it describes. Use 'política' for feminine nouns (e.g., 'la decisión política') and 'políticos' or 'políticas' for plural nouns.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting Gender Agreement
Mistake: "La situación político es mala."
Correction: La situación política es mala. (Because 'situación' is a feminine word, the adjective must end in -a.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Positioning
Like most Spanish adjectives, 'político' usually comes immediately after the noun it modifies (e.g., 'problema político').
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: político
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the adjective 'político'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'político' (noun) and 'política' (noun)?
The key difference is gender and meaning. 'El político' (masculine) means 'the male politician.' 'La política' (feminine) can mean either 'the female politician' OR 'the subject/field of politics' (like 'la ciencia política'). Context usually makes it clear.