sexo
“sexo” means “sex” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
sex
Also: gender
📝 In Action
En el formulario, por favor, indique su sexo.
A2On the form, please indicate your sex.
La bióloga estudia las diferencias entre los sexos en esa especie.
B1The biologist studies the differences between the sexes in that species.
El sexo del bebé todavía no es conocido.
B1The sex of the baby is not yet known.
sex
Also: intercourse
📝 In Action
Es importante hablar de sexo seguro con tu pareja.
B1It's important to talk about safe sex with your partner.
La educación sobre el sexo es fundamental en las escuelas.
B1Sex education is fundamental in schools.
Tuvieron una conversación honesta sobre su vida de sexo.
B2They had an honest conversation about their sex life.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: sexo
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'sexo' to refer to a biological category?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word 'sexus', which had the same meanings: the division of beings into male and female, and also the physical act of love.
First recorded: Around the 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between 'sexo' and 'género' in Spanish?
Generally, 'sexo' refers to biological characteristics (male, female). 'Género' refers to your personal identity and social roles (man, woman, non-binary, etc.). However, on many official forms, you'll see 'sexo' used where English might use 'gender', simply asking you to check 'masculino' or 'femenino'.
How do I say 'to have sex' in Spanish? Can I just use 'sexo' as a verb?
No, you can't use 'sexo' as a verb. The most common and natural way to say 'to have sex' is 'tener sexo'. You can also use 'practicar sexo' or, in more formal contexts, 'mantener relaciones sexuales'.