provincial
“provincial” means “provincial” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
provincial
Also: regional
📝 In Action
El gobierno provincial está arreglando las carreteras.
A2The provincial government is fixing the roads.
Ella trabaja en la oficina provincial de correos.
B1She works in the provincial post office.
Muchas leyes provinciales son diferentes a las nacionales.
B2Many provincial laws are different from the national ones.
small-town
Also: provincial
📝 In Action
Tiene una mentalidad un poco provincial.
B2He has a bit of a small-town mentality.
No quiero parecer provincial, pero esto me sorprende.
C1I don't want to seem provincial, but this surprises me.
Ese estilo de vida tan provincial me aburre.
B2That provincial lifestyle bores me.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: provincial
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the correct plural of 'provincial'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'provincialis', which refers to anything belonging to a 'provincia' (a conquered territory outside of Rome).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'provincial' and 'provinciano' the same?
Not quite. 'Provincial' usually describes things (like laws or governments) or attitudes. 'Provinciano' is the word used to describe a person who lives in or comes from a province.
Can I use 'provincial' for any region?
Generally, yes, but it sounds most natural in countries that are actually divided into 'provincias' (like Spain, Argentina, or Canada).
Does it change for feminine nouns?
No. Since it ends in 'l', it stays the same for both masculine and feminine nouns (e.g., el mapa provincial, la zona provincial).