sociales
“sociales” means “social studies” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
social studies, social sciences
Also: social life
📝 In Action
Mi materia favorita en el colegio siempre fueron las sociales.
A2My favorite subject in high school was always social studies.
Necesitas mejorar tus habilidades sociales para conseguir ese trabajo.
B1You need to improve your social skills to get that job. (short for habilidades sociales)
El profesor de sociales nos puso mucha tarea.
A2The social studies teacher gave us a lot of homework.
social
Also: societal
📝 In Action
Las redes sociales han cambiado la forma en que nos comunicamos.
A1Social networks have changed the way we communicate.
Hay muchos problemas sociales que debemos resolver.
A2There are many social problems that we must solve.
Los eventos sociales de la empresa son muy divertidos.
B1The company's social events are very fun.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "sociales" in Spanish:
social→social life→social sciences→social studies→societal→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: sociales
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'sociales' as a noun (meaning 'social studies')?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin term *socialis*, which meant 'of companionship' or 'allied.' It shares roots with the English word 'society,' emphasizing connection and community.
First recorded: 13th century (in Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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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').

