sociales

/soh-syah-less/

social studies

A high quality illustration of a stylized world globe resting beside an ancient rolled-up parchment scroll, symbolizing the academic subject of social studies.

This image shows tools used in the academic subject, social studies (sociales).

sociales(noun)

fA2

social studies

academic subject

social sciences

academic discipline

Also:

social life

informal gatherings or activities

📝 In Action

Mi materia favorita en el colegio siempre fueron las sociales.

My favorite subject in high school was always social studies.

Necesitas mejorar tus habilidades sociales para conseguir ese trabajo.

You need to improve your social skills to get that job. (short for habilidades sociales)

El profesor de sociales nos puso mucha tarea.

The social studies teacher gave us a lot of homework.

Word Connections

Synonyms

historia (history)
geografía (geography)

Common Collocations

clase de sociales – social studies class
ciencias sociales – social sciences

💡 Grammar Points

A Noun Shortcut

Even though 'sociales' looks like a plural adjective, when used this way, it's a noun that acts as a shortcut for 'ciencias sociales' (social sciences).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Singular

Mistake: "Hablo de social en la escuela."

Correction: Hablo de las sociales en la escuela. (Always use the plural form when referring to the subject.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Remember the Article

Always use the feminine plural article 'las' with this noun meaning: 'Las sociales'.

A simple illustration depicting a group of four diverse people standing together, smiling and engaged in friendly conversation, representing social interaction.

The image shows people interacting in a social (sociales) setting.

sociales(adjective)

m/fA1

social

related to society or community (plural)

Also:

societal

formal or academic use (plural)

📝 In Action

Las redes sociales han cambiado la forma en que nos comunicamos.

Social networks have changed the way we communicate.

Hay muchos problemas sociales que debemos resolver.

There are many social problems that we must solve.

Los eventos sociales de la empresa son muy divertidos.

The company's social events are very fun.

Word Connections

Synonyms

comunitarios (community-based)
públicos (public)

Antonyms

individuales (individual)

Common Collocations

servicios sociales – social services
clase sociales – social classes

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Agreement

'Sociales' is the plural form of 'social'. It must match the noun it describes in number (plural) and can be used with both masculine and feminine nouns (e.g., 'problemas sociales' or 'redes sociales').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Singular with Plural Nouns

Mistake: "Tengo problemas social."

Correction: Tengo problemas sociales. (The adjective must be plural to match the plural noun 'problemas'.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Meaning is Broad

This adjective covers anything related to people interacting with each other, from government services ('servicios sociales') to fun parties ('eventos sociales').

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: sociales

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'sociales' as a noun (meaning 'social studies')?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

social(social) - adjective

sociedad(society) - noun

socializar(to socialize) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'sociales' sometimes feminine (las sociales) and sometimes masculine (los problemas sociales)?

When 'sociales' is used as a standalone noun for the school subject, it's short for 'las ciencias sociales' (the social sciences), which is feminine. When it's used as a descriptive adjective, it just matches the noun it's next to, like 'los problemas' (masculine plural) or 'las redes' (feminine plural).

¿'Social' or 'sociales'? How do I know which one to use?

If you are describing one thing (singular), use 'social' (e.g., 'un problema social'). If you are describing two or more things (plural), use 'sociales' (e.g., 'dos problemas sociales').