políticos
/poh-LEE-tee-kohs/
politicians
"Políticos" refers to politicians, people who work in government.
políticos(noun)
politicians
?people who work in government
statesmen
?formal term for influential political figures
📝 In Action
Los políticos están debatiendo una nueva ley de educación.
A2The politicians are debating a new education law.
Muchos jóvenes no confían en los políticos de su país.
B1Many young people don't trust the politicians in their country.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Number
Since this word refers to a group of people, it is plural. Because it ends in '-os', it is the masculine plural form, used for groups of men or mixed-gender groups.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing People vs. System
Mistake: "Using 'los políticos' when you mean 'politics' (the system)."
Correction: Use 'la política' (feminine singular noun) when referring to the system or field of study: 'Me interesa la política' (I am interested in politics).
⭐ Usage Tips
Referring to Women
If you are referring specifically to a group of female politicians, use the feminine plural form: 'las políticas'.
The adjective "políticos" describes things relating to public or political affairs, like a political issue.
políticos(adjective)
political
?relating to public affairs (plural masculine)
politic
?shrewd or diplomatic (less common usage)
📝 In Action
Los temas políticos dominaron la conversación en la cena.
B1The political topics dominated the conversation at dinner.
Necesitamos acuerdos políticos para avanzar en este proyecto.
B2We need political agreements to move forward on this project.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
As an adjective, 'políticos' must match the noun it describes. Since it ends in '-os', it describes plural masculine nouns (like 'acuerdos' or 'temas').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Missing Agreement
Mistake: "Saying 'las decisiones político' (using the singular form)."
Correction: The adjective must be plural and feminine to match 'decisiones': 'las decisiones políticas'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Placement
Like most Spanish adjectives, 'políticos' usually goes after the noun it describes: 'los debates políticos' (the political debates).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: políticos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'políticos' as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'políticos' and 'políticas'?
'Políticos' (masculine plural) is used for a group of male politicians or a mixed group. 'Políticas' (feminine plural) is used exclusively for a group of female politicians or to describe plural feminine nouns (e.g., 'ideas políticas').
Why does the singular form 'político' sometimes mean 'politician' and sometimes 'political'?
'Político' is one of those versatile words! When you use it with 'el' or 'un' (like 'el político'), it's a noun meaning 'the politician.' When you use it after a noun (like 'el debate político'), it's an adjective meaning 'political'.