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territorial

te-rree-toh-ryahl/te.ri.toˈrjal/

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

territorial

Also: regional
Adjectivem or fB1
A colorful map showing distinct colored regions of land and blue sea.

📝 In Action

Los dos países tienen una disputa territorial por la isla.

B1

The two countries have a territorial dispute over the island.

El plan busca mejorar la organización territorial del estado.

B2

The plan seeks to improve the regional organization of the state.

Las aguas territoriales se extienden doce millas mar adentro.

C1

Territorial waters extend twelve miles offshore.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • geográfico (geographic)
  • regional (regional)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • aguas territoriales – territorial waters
  • disputa territorial – territorial dispute
  • división territorial – territorial division

territorial

Adjectivem or fB2
A small dog sitting on a colorful rug, guarding its toy bone from a distance.

📝 In Action

Los perros pueden ser muy territoriales con su comida.

A2

Dogs can be very territorial with their food.

Es un pájaro muy territorial que no deja acercarse a otros.

B1

It is a very territorial bird that doesn't let others get close.

Mi jefe es muy territorial con sus proyectos.

B2

My boss is very territorial about his projects.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • celoso (jealous/protective)
  • posesivo (possessive)

Common Collocations

  • comportamiento territorial – territorial behavior
  • animal territorial – territorial animal

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "territorial" in Spanish:

regional→territorial→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: territorial

Question 1 of 3

Which is the correct plural form of 'territorial'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
territorio(territory) — Noun
territorialidad(territoriality) — Noun
extraterritorial(extraterritorial) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'territorialis', which comes from 'territorium' (land around a town). It ultimately links back to 'terra' meaning 'earth' or 'land'.

First recorded: 17th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: territorialFrench: territorialItalian: territoriale

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'territorial' change for masculine and feminine?

No. Adjectives that end in '-al' in Spanish use the same form for both genders. For example: 'el área territorial' and 'el espacio territorial'.

Is it used for people or just animals?

It can be used for both! It's very common to describe a person who is very protective of their desk, room, or job responsibilities as 'territorial'.

What is the difference between 'territorial' and 'regional'?

'Territorial' usually refers to the ownership or legal control of land, while 'regional' simply refers to a specific geographic area or its characteristics.