sujetos
/soo-HEH-tohs/
subjects
As a noun, sujetos means 'subjects,' often referring to people involved in a study or legal matter.
sujetos(noun)
subjects
?as in subjects of a study or legal matter
,individuals
?people, persons
guys
?informal, sometimes negative or suspicious context
,parties
?legal or contractual context
📝 In Action
Los sujetos de la investigación deben firmar este formulario.
B1The subjects of the investigation must sign this form.
Había dos sujetos sospechosos merodeando por la calle.
B2There were two suspicious characters loitering on the street.
Los sujetos activos en la economía son los consumidores y las empresas.
C1The active parties in the economy are consumers and businesses.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Plural Noun
This word is the plural form of 'sujeto' (a person or subject). Use it to refer to multiple people, especially in official language.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Noun and Adjective
Mistake: "Using 'estos sujetos están sujetos' to mean 'these people are held' (redundancy)."
Correction: While grammatically correct, it sounds repetitive. Try 'Estas personas están atadas' (These people are tied/held).
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Informal
Use 'sujetos' when writing reports or speaking formally. In casual conversation, stick to 'personas' or 'gente' unless you want to suggest the people are unknown or suspicious.
As an adjective, sujetos means 'subjected,' indicating that something is under the control or power of another entity.
sujetos(adjective)
subjected
?under the control of something
,dependent
?required to follow rules or conditions
fastened
?physically attached or held
,bound
?obligated
📝 In Action
Todos los ciudadanos estamos sujetos a las leyes del país.
B2All citizens are subject to (dependent on) the laws of the country.
Los pagos están sujetos a la aprobación del director.
B2The payments are subject to (dependent on) the director's approval.
Los cables están sujetos firmemente a la pared.
C1The cables are firmly fastened to the wall.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement with Nouns
As an adjective, 'sujetos' must match the gender and number of the noun it describes. Since 'sujetos' is masculine plural, it is used for masculine plural things or people.
Using 'A' after the Adjective
When 'sujetos' means 'dependent on' or 'subjected to,' it is almost always followed by the preposition 'a' (to/on).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mismatched Gender
Mistake: "Saying 'Las reglas están sujetos a revisión' (using masculine for feminine noun 'reglas')."
Correction: Say 'Las reglas están sujetas a revisión.' (matching feminine plural).
⭐ Usage Tips
Passive Meaning
This adjective comes from the verb 'sujetar' (to hold/fasten). Think of it as meaning 'being held down' or 'being controlled by' some condition or rule.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sujetos
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'sujetos' to mean 'dependent on a condition'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use 'sujetos' instead of 'personas'?
Use 'sujetos' when you are referring to people in a clinical, legal, or academic context (like 'test subjects'). You might also use it if you don't know the people's names, or if you want to imply they are suspicious or being observed. 'Personas' is the standard, neutral word for 'people'.
Is 'sujetos' related to the verb 'sujetar'?
Yes, absolutely! 'Sujetos' is the plural masculine form of the past participle of 'sujetar,' which means 'to hold,' 'to fasten,' or 'to subject someone to something.' This is why it can mean 'people who are held' (the noun) or 'things that are held/dependent' (the adjective).