público
/POO-blee-koh/
public
When used as an adjective, público means "public," referring to things related to the community or government, like a public park.
público(Adjective)
public
?related to the community or government
state-owned
?e.g., a public company
,open to all
?e.g., a public event
📝 In Action
El transporte público es muy eficiente aquí.
A2The public transportation is very efficient here.
Es un parque público, así que todos pueden entrar.
A2It's a public park, so everyone can enter.
La salud pública es una prioridad para el gobierno.
B1Public health is a priority for the government.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Noun
Like most Spanish adjectives, 'público' changes to match the thing it describes. Use 'público' for masculine things ('el parque público') and 'pública' for feminine things ('la escuela pública').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting to Change the Ending
Mistake: "La sistema público de salud."
Correction: El sistema público de salud. The word 'sistema' looks feminine but is actually masculine, so you need 'público' to match.
⭐ Usage Tips
Where to Place It
Unlike in English, 'público' usually comes after the word it describes. Think 'transportation public' (transporte público) instead of 'public transportation'.
As a noun, público means "audience," the group of people attending a show or event.
público(Noun)
audience
?people at a show, concert, or event
the public
?people in general, the community
📝 In Action
El público aplaudió durante cinco minutos.
B1The audience applauded for five minutes.
La película no fue bien recibida por el público.
B1The movie was not well-received by the public.
El artista interactuó mucho con su público.
B2The artist interacted a lot with his audience.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Masculine
When 'público' means 'audience' or 'the public,' it's always masculine: 'el público'. This is true even if the audience is all women.
⭐ Usage Tips
'Audience' vs. 'The Public'
Context is key! If you're talking about a specific group watching something, it means 'audience'. If you're talking about people in a city or country generally, it means 'the public'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: público
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'público' to mean 'audience'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'público' and 'gente'?
'Público' often refers to a specific group, like an audience at a concert, or the general population in an official sense (the public). 'Gente' is a more general, everyday word for 'people'.
Is there a feminine form, 'pública', when it's a noun?
No. When it means 'audience' or 'the public', it's always the masculine noun 'el público', even if the group is all women. The form 'pública' is only used when it's an adjective describing a feminine noun, like 'la opinión pública' (public opinion).