súbdito
“súbdito” means “subject” in Spanish (a person under the rule of a monarch or government).
subject
Also: citizen
📝 In Action
Es un súbdito de la Corona británica.
A2He is a subject of the British Crown.
En la Edad Media, los súbditos debían pagar impuestos al rey.
B1In the Middle Ages, subjects had to pay taxes to the king.
El embajador se reunió con varios súbditos de su país en el extranjero.
C1The ambassador met with several subjects of his country abroad.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: súbdito
Question 1 of 3
Which word describes someone who lives in a country ruled by a King?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'subdĭtus', which literally means 'placed under'. It combines 'sub' (under) and 'dare' (to give or place).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'súbdito' an offensive word?
Not usually; it is a formal and legal term. However, because it implies being 'under' someone's power, it can feel old-fashioned or less democratic than 'citizen'.
Can I use 'súbdito' to talk about a person in the USA?
No, because the USA is a republic. You should use 'ciudadano' (citizen) instead.
Why does it have an accent mark?
The accent is on the third-to-last syllable (súb-di-to). In Spanish, words with this stress pattern (esdrújulas) always require an accent mark.