sociedad
/soh-see-eh-DAHD/
society
When sociedad means "society," it refers to the collective community structure.
sociedad(noun)
society
?The collective community or structure
public
?When referring to the general populace
,community
?A specific group with shared interests
📝 In Action
Vivimos en una sociedad muy diversa.
A2We live in a very diverse society.
La sociedad civil protestó contra la nueva ley.
B1Civil society protested against the new law.
El bienestar de la sociedad es responsabilidad de todos.
B2The well-being of society is everyone's responsibility.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Ending
Words in Spanish that end in -dad, like 'sociedad' (or 'ciudad' and 'libertad'), are almost always feminine and require feminine articles (la sociedad).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Incorrect Gender
Mistake: "El sociedad es importante."
Correction: La sociedad es importante. Remember, it is a feminine noun.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Context
When you read news or academic texts, 'sociedad' is the standard word for the entire human collective or the structure of a nation.
Sociedad can also mean "company," referring to a business or commercial firm.
sociedad(noun)
company
?A business or commercial firm
,partnership
?A formal arrangement between people in business
association
?A group formed for a specific purpose
📝 In Action
Crearon una sociedad limitada para reducir riesgos.
B2They created a limited company (LTD) to reduce risks.
Necesitas registrar la sociedad con el gobierno.
C1You need to register the company with the government.
💡 Grammar Points
Business Acronyms
You will often see 'S.A.' (Sociedad Anónima) or 'S.L.' (Sociedad Limitada) used after a business name, indicating the type of legal company structure.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
If you are reading a financial document or talking about starting a business, 'sociedad' almost always refers to a legal business entity, not the general public.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sociedad
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'sociedad' to mean a specific business rather than the general public?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Cómo se dice 'social' en español?
The adjective form is 'social.' It is one of the few words ending in -al that doesn't change based on gender (es decir, es 'el problema social' y 'la vida social').
If 'sociedad' means 'company,' how do I translate 'in the company of friends'?
In that case, you use a different Spanish word: 'compañía.' You would say 'en compañía de amigos.' 'Sociedad' is reserved for the large collective or a registered business entity.