superiores
“superiores” means “higher” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
higher, superior
Also: upper, advanced
📝 In Action
Necesitas completar los estudios superiores para conseguir ese trabajo.
B1You need to complete the higher studies (university/college) to get that job.
Las fuerzas superiores dominaron la batalla.
B2The superior forces dominated the battle.
Los pisos superiores de este edificio son muy caros.
B1The upper floors of this building are very expensive.
superiors, higher-ups
Also: elders
📝 In Action
Debemos informar a nuestros superiores sobre el cambio de planes.
B2We must inform our superiors (bosses/higher-ups) about the change in plans.
Los superiores del monasterio tomaron la decisión final.
C1The superiors of the monastery made the final decision.
Ella siempre obedece a sus superiores en el trabajo.
B2She always obeys her bosses at work.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "superiores" in Spanish:
advanced→elders→higher→higher-ups→superior→superiors→upper→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: superiores
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'superiores' as a noun (referring to people)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word *superior*, meaning 'higher' or 'upper.' It is the comparative form of *superus* ('that is above'), showing that something is placed above or is better than something else.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish (as 'superior')
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'superiores' look the same whether it describes men or women?
This is because the base adjective 'superior' ends in -r. Adjectives that end in -r often have the same form for both masculine and feminine nouns. When made plural, it just adds '-es' for both (e.g., 'fuerzas superiores' and 'niveles superiores').
Is 'superiores' always a good thing?
Usually, yes, but it can sometimes sound very formal, especially when referring to people ('superiors'). It simply means 'higher' or 'better' in rank, quality, or position, which isn't always positive depending on the context of power dynamics.