Inklingo
← Dictionary
A high quality storybook illustration showing three diverse living entities: a young child, a small dog, and a vibrant green tree, standing together on a grassy hill under a bright sky.

seres

SEH-res

nounmB1
beings?Living entities
Also:creatures?Often used for non-human life or mythical beings,entities?General term for something that exists

📝 In Action

Los científicos estudian a los seres vivos que habitan este ecosistema.

B1

Scientists study the living beings that inhabit this ecosystem.

Todos los seres humanos merecen respeto, sin importar su origen.

A2

All human beings deserve respect, regardless of their origin.

La película trata sobre encuentros con seres de otro planeta.

B2

The movie is about encounters with beings from another planet.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • organismos (organisms)
  • criaturas (creatures)

Common Collocations

  • seres vivos – living beings
  • seres humanos – human beings
  • seres de luz – beings of light (spiritual reference)

💡 Grammar Points

The Root Word 'Ser'

This word is the plural of 'ser' (meaning 'being' or 'creature', not the verb 'to be'). Although the noun 'ser' is masculine ('el ser'), it can refer to any creature, male or female.

Using 'Seres' vs. 'Personas'

Use 'seres humanos' when you want to emphasize the fundamental nature or existence of people; use 'personas' for general counts or social groups.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing up the Noun and the Verb

Mistake: "Using 'seres' to mean 'you are' (which should be 'eres' or 'seas')."

Correction: 'Seres' is almost always the plural noun. The verb form 'seres' is extremely rare and archaic.

⭐ Usage Tips

Context Clues

If you see 'los seres' or 'unos seres', you know it's the noun 'beings,' because nouns usually follow articles like 'los' or 'unos.'

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: seres

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'seres' as 'beings'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

ser(being; existence (noun)) - noun
ser(to be (verb)) - verb
existencia(existence) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'seres' ever a verb?

Yes, technically, 'seres' is an archaic (very old and almost never used) form of the verb 'ser' (to be). It was the future subjunctive form for 'tú.' In modern Spanish, you should only learn and use 'seres' as the plural noun meaning 'beings' or 'creatures.'

How do I say 'human beings' in Spanish?

You say 'los seres humanos.' This is the standard and most formal way to refer to humankind.