sirvientes
seer-BYEN-tehs
📝 In Action
Los sirvientes de la mansión prepararon la cena para los invitados.
B1The servants of the mansion prepared dinner for the guests.
En las novelas antiguas, los sirvientes siempre sabían todos los secretos.
B1In old novels, the servants always knew all the secrets.
💡 Grammar Points
Group Gender Rules
Even though this word looks masculine, it is used to talk about a group of servants that includes both men and women.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Choosing the Right Word
Mistake: "Using 'sirvientes' for a modern housekeeper."
Correction: Use 'empleado/a del hogar' or 'limpiador/a' for modern workers; 'sirvientes' can sound a bit old-fashioned or like you're talking about a castle.
⭐ Usage Tips
Period Context
You will mostly encounter this word when reading books like Sherlock Holmes or watching shows like Downton Abbey.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sirvientes
Question 1 of 1
Where would you be most likely to find 'sirvientes'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'sirvientes' the same as 'servidores'?
Not exactly. While both serve, 'servidores' is often used for 'servers' (like in a restaurant or computer servers), whereas 'sirvientes' specifically refers to domestic workers in a home.
Can I use 'sirvientes' to talk about my modern cleaning staff?
It is better to avoid it. Using 'sirvientes' today can sound elitist. Use 'personal de limpieza' or 'empleados' instead.