públicas
“públicas” means “public” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
public
Also: governmental, state-owned
📝 In Action
Las bibliotecas públicas abren los sábados.
A1The public libraries open on Saturdays.
Necesitamos políticas públicas más justas.
B1We need fairer public policies.
Sus declaraciones públicas causaron controversia.
B2Her public statements caused controversy.
public services
Also: public works, state-owned entities
📝 In Action
El presupuesto para las públicas fue aprobado.
B1The budget for the public services was approved.
Hay que mejorar la calidad de las públicas.
B2We must improve the quality of the public works/services.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: públicas
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'públicas' as a noun (referring to a service or entity)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word *publicus*, which meant 'of the people' or 'belonging to the state.' It is related to the Latin word *populus* (people).
First recorded: Appeared in Spanish during the early Middle Ages.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'públicas' and 'pública'?
'Pública' is the singular form (used when describing one feminine thing, like 'una calle pública'). 'Públicas' is the plural form (used when describing two or more feminine things, like 'dos calles públicas').
Why does 'públicas' sound like it means 'public works' sometimes?
This happens through abbreviation. Instead of saying the full phrase 'obras públicas' (public works), Spanish speakers often just use the adjective 'públicas' and trust the listener knows the meaning from the context, especially in government or news discussions.