Inklingo
← Dictionary

puertorriqueño

pwer-toh-ree-KEH-nyoh/pweɾtoriˈkeɲo/

“puertorriqueño” means “Puerto Rican” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

Puerto Rican

Also: of Puerto Rico
A colorful map of the island of Puerto Rico with a bright sun and tropical palm trees.

📝 In Action

Me gusta mucho el café puertorriqueño.

A1

I really like Puerto Rican coffee.

La bandera puertorriqueña tiene una estrella blanca.

A1

The Puerto Rican flag has a white star.

Ella estudia la literatura puertorriqueña del siglo veinte.

B1

She studies 20th-century Puerto Rican literature.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • boricua (Puerto Rican (cultural term))
  • borincano (Puerto Rican (poetic term))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • café puertorriqueño – Puerto Rican coffee
  • cultura puertorriqueña – Puerto Rican culture
  • música puertorriqueña – Puerto Rican music

Puerto Rican

NounmA1
A happy person wearing a traditional hat standing in front of a colorful colonial building.

📝 In Action

Mi vecino es puertorriqueño.

A1

My neighbor is Puerto Rican.

Los puertorriqueños son ciudadanos estadounidenses.

A2

Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens.

Una puertorriqueña ganó la competencia de baile.

A2

A Puerto Rican woman won the dance competition.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • boricua (Boricua (proud cultural term))

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "puertorriqueño" in Spanish:

puerto rican→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: puertorriqueño

Question 1 of 3

Which of the following is the correct way to say 'The Puerto Rican music'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
Puerto Rico(Puerto Rico) — Noun
puertorriqueñidad(Puerto Rican identity/essence) — Noun
boricua(Puerto Rican) — Noun / Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
pequeñosueñodueño
📚 Etymology▼

Formed by combining 'Puerto Rico' (which means 'Rich Port' in Spanish) with the suffix '-eño', which is commonly used in Spanish to indicate where someone is from.

First recorded: 16th century

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'puertorriqueño' capitalized?

No. In Spanish, nationalities and demonyms (words for people from a certain place) are written in lowercase, unlike in English.

What is the difference between 'puertorriqueño' and 'boricua'?

'Puertorriqueño' is the formal, standard term. 'Boricua' is an informal term derived from the indigenous name of the island; it's very common and carries a lot of cultural pride.

How do I say 'Puerto Rican' for a girl?

Simply change the final '-o' to an '-a', making it 'puertorriqueña'.