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subordinado

soo-bor-dee-NAH-doh/suβoɾðiˈnaðo/

“subordinado” means “subordinate” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

subordinate

Also: employee, underling
NounmB1formal
A team member in a bright office listening attentively to a supervisor who is pointing at a project board.

📝 In Action

El general dio órdenes a sus subordinados.

B1

The general gave orders to his subordinates.

Es un jefe que siempre escucha a sus subordinados.

B1

He is a boss who always listens to his employees.

La relación entre el supervisor y el subordinado debe ser profesional.

C1

The relationship between the supervisor and the subordinate must be professional.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • trato con subordinados – dealing with subordinates
  • lealtad del subordinado – loyalty of the subordinate

subordinate

Also: secondary, dependent
A line of colorful birds on a branch, with one smaller bird sitting on a lower branch looking up at the others.

📝 In Action

Este departamento tiene un papel subordinado en la empresa.

B2

This department has a subordinate role in the company.

Tus deseos personales están subordinados al bienestar de la familia.

C1

Your personal desires are secondary to the family's well-being.

Hay una idea principal y varias ideas subordinadas.

B2

There is one main idea and several secondary ideas.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • estar subordinado a – to be subordinate to
  • papel subordinado – subordinate role

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "subordinado" in Spanish:

dependent→employee→secondary→subordinate→underling→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: subordinado

Question 1 of 3

How do you say 'She is my subordinate'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
subordinar(to subordinate) — Verb
subordinación(subordination) — Noun
subordinada(subordinate (feminine)) — Noun / Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From Latin 'sub' (under) and 'ordinare' (to arrange/order), literally meaning 'arranged underneath'.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: subordinateFrench: subordonnéPortuguese: subordinado

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'subordinado' a rude word?

Not necessarily, but it is very clinical and formal. In a casual office, calling someone your 'subordinado' might sound a bit bossy. 'Mi equipo' (my team) or 'mis empleados' is often friendlier.

Does this word only apply to people?

No, it can describe things or ideas. For example, 'una idea subordinada' is a secondary idea that depends on a main one.

How do I make it plural?

Just add an 's': 'subordinados' for a group (or a mix of men and women) and 'subordinadas' for a group of only women.