racista
/rra-SEE-sta/
racist
When describing discriminatory beliefs or actions, racista functions as an adjective.
racista(adjective)
racist
?describing beliefs, policies, or actions
racialist
?less common, referring to racial theories
📝 In Action
Su comentario fue profundamente racista y ofensivo.
B1His comment was profoundly racist and offensive.
No podemos tolerar actitudes racistas en la escuela.
B2We cannot tolerate racist attitudes in the school.
Mucha gente ha luchado contra leyes racistas.
B2Many people have fought against racist laws.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Stays the Same
This adjective is 'invariable' in gender, meaning the ending always stays as '-ista', whether you are describing a masculine noun ('un comentario racista') or a feminine noun ('una actitud racista').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Changing the Ending
Mistake: "La ley racista."
Correction: La ley racista. (Do not try to change it to 'racisto' or 'racista' based on gender—the 'a' ending here is fixed.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Making it Plural
To make it plural, simply add an 's': 'las leyes racistas' (the racist laws) or 'los comentarios racistas' (the racist comments).
When referring to an individual who holds prejudiced views, racista is used as a noun.
📝 In Action
El racista fue expulsado del grupo.
B1The racist (man) was expelled from the group.
La racista no quiso sentarse con ellos.
B2The racist (woman) did not want to sit with them.
Los racistas causaron un gran problema en la manifestación.
B2The racists caused a big problem in the demonstration.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Articles
When using 'racista' as a noun (the person), you must change the article ('el' or 'la') to match the person's gender, even though the word 'racista' itself doesn't change its spelling.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing Articles
Mistake: "La racista es malo."
Correction: La racista es mala. (If the person is female, the adjective describing her must also be feminine, even if the noun form 'racista' stays the same.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Ser'
You will almost always use the verb 'ser' (to be) with this word because it describes a fundamental, lasting characteristic of a person or idea ('Ella es racista').
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: racista
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'racista' as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'racista' ever change its ending to 'o'?
No. The word 'racista' is fixed and always ends in 'a'. It describes both men and women, and masculine and feminine things, without changing its spelling. Only the articles ('el'/'la', 'un'/'una') change.
¿Es 'racista' un adjetivo o un sustantivo?
It can be both! If you say 'un comentario racista,' it's an adjective describing the comment. If you say 'El racista fue arrestado,' it's a noun referring to the person.