pueblo
“pueblo” means “town” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
town
Also: village
📝 In Action
Mi abuela vive en un pueblo pequeño en las montañas.
A1My grandmother lives in a small town in the mountains.
Vamos al pueblo para comprar pan fresco.
A2We're going to the town to buy fresh bread.
Cada verano, el pueblo celebra una fiesta grande.
A2Every summer, the town celebrates a big festival.
people
Also: nation
📝 In Action
El pueblo mexicano tiene una rica historia y cultura.
B1The Mexican people have a rich history and culture.
Es una tradición antigua para el pueblo judío.
B2It's an ancient tradition for the Jewish people.
La ONU defiende los derechos de los pueblos indígenas.
B2The UN defends the rights of indigenous peoples.
the people
Also: the populace
📝 In Action
El gobierno debe escuchar la voluntad del pueblo.
B2The government must listen to the will of the people.
El candidato prometió luchar por el pueblo.
B2The candidate promised to fight for the people.
La revolución fue considerada una victoria del pueblo.
C1The revolution was considered a victory of the people.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pueblo
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'pueblo' to mean 'the people' as a nation or political group?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word 'populus', which meant 'the people'. You can see this ancient root in English words like 'people', 'popular', and 'population'. The shift from 'people' to 'place where people live' (a town) happened naturally over time.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'pueblo', 'ciudad', and 'aldea'?
Think of them in terms of size! An 'aldea' is the smallest, like a hamlet or a tiny village with just a few houses. A 'pueblo' is a town or larger village; it's bigger than an 'aldea' and has more services. A 'ciudad' is the biggest; it's a city like Madrid, Bogotá, or Lima.
Can I use 'pueblo' to talk about 'my people' (my family/friends)?
Not really. For your close group of friends or family, it's more natural to say 'mi gente' (my people) or 'los míos' (my people/my folks). 'Pueblo' refers to a much larger group, like a whole nation or the citizens of a country.