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suburbio

soo-BOOR-byoh/suˈβuɾβjo/

“suburbio” means “slum” in Spanish (a poor, crowded area).

slum

Also: outskirts, shantytown
NounmB1
Latin AmericaSpain
A cluster of simple, weathered small houses packed closely together in a humble urban neighborhood.

📝 In Action

Muchos trabajadores humildes viven en el suburbio.

A2

Many humble workers live in the poor outskirts.

El gobierno quiere mejorar las calles de los suburbios.

B1

The government wants to improve the streets in the slums.

Crecí en un suburbio alejado del ruido del centro.

B2

I grew up in a peripheral neighborhood away from the city center noise.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • afueras (outskirts)
  • barriada (shantytown / neighborhood)
  • periferia (periphery)

Antonyms

  • centro (downtown / center)
  • casco antiguo (old town)

Common Collocations

  • suburbio obrero – working-class neighborhood
  • vivir en el suburbio – to live in the slums/outskirts
  • suburbios degradados – rundown slums

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "suburbio" in Spanish:

outskirts→shantytown→slum→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: suburbio

Question 1 of 3

If you live in a wealthy, quiet residential area outside the city center, how should you describe it?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
suburbano(suburban (usually referring to trains)) — Adjective
urbe(large city) — Noun
urbanización(housing development) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
disturbioproverbio
📚 Etymology▼

From Latin 'suburbium', where 'sub' means 'under or near' and 'urbs' means 'city'. It originally referred to the areas literally just outside the city walls.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: suburbFrench: suburbain

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'suburbio' an offensive word?

It is not a swear word, but it can be sensitive because it highlights poverty. It is descriptive rather than insulting, but 'las afueras' is more polite if you just mean 'not the center'.

How do I say 'the suburbs' like in the US or UK?

The best phrase is 'las afueras' or 'una zona residencial fuera de la ciudad'. If you use 'suburbio', people will think you are talking about a slum.

What is a 'tren suburbano'?

It is a commuter train that connects the city center with the outlying towns and neighborhoods.