terrorista
/teh-roh-REES-tah/
terrorist
When used as a noun, terrorista refers to a person who commits acts of terror.
📝 In Action
La policía capturó al presunto terrorista cerca de la frontera.
B1The police captured the alleged terrorist near the border.
La terrorista fue identificada gracias a la vigilancia de seguridad.
B2The terrorist (female) was identified thanks to security surveillance.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender is Flexible
This noun ends in -ista, which means the form is the same whether you are talking about a man (el terrorista) or a woman (la terrorista). Only the article (el/la) changes.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Changing the Ending
Mistake: "La terroristo"
Correction: La terrorista. Words ending in -ista are almost always used for both genders in Spanish.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Context
In formal reporting, this word is often preceded by cautionary words like 'presunto' (alleged) or 'sospechoso' (suspect).
As an adjective, terrorista describes an action or group associated with causing terror.
terrorista(adjective)
terrorist
?describing an action or group
terroristic
?relating to terror
📝 In Action
El ataque terrorista fue condenado por la comunidad internacional.
B2The terrorist attack was condemned by the international community.
Se descubrió una amenaza terrorista contra la capital.
B2A terrorist threat against the capital was discovered.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Stays the Same
As an adjective, 'terrorista' does not change its ending to match the noun it describes. It is the same for singular, plural, masculine, or feminine nouns (e.g., 'ataque terrorista' and 'amenazas terroristas').
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing the Source
Use 'terrorista' when describing something that originates from or is characteristic of terrorism, like 'un complot terrorista' (a terrorist plot).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: terrorista
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'terrorista' to describe a female individual?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'terrorista' end in 'a' but can refer to a man?
Words that end in '-ista' in Spanish, like 'artista' or 'dentista,' refer to a person who practices an activity or ideology. They have the same form for both masculine and feminine people. You use 'el' for a man and 'la' for a woman.
¿Es 'terrorista' una palabra fuerte?
Sí, 'terrorista' es una palabra con un significado político y social muy serio. Se utiliza generalmente en contextos de noticias, seguridad y política, y tiene una connotación muy negativa.