A colorful storybook illustration showing three smiling individuals wearing matching uniforms standing close together on the deck of a large ship, representing a unified crew.

tripulación

tree-poo-lah-SYOHN

NounfB1

crew?The staff working on a vehicle,flight crew?Aviation

Also:ship's company?Maritime,personnel?General staff

📝 In Action

La tripulación del avión fue muy amable durante el vuelo.

The plane's crew was very kind during the flight.

Se necesita una tripulación de al menos diez personas para operar este barco.

A crew of at least ten people is needed to operate this ship.

La tripulación de la nave espacial se preparó para el despegue.

The spacecraft crew prepared for takeoff.

Word Connections

Synonyms

equipo (team)
personal (personnel)

Common Collocations

tripulación de cabina – cabin crew / flight attendants
miembro de la tripulación – crew member
lista de tripulación – crew manifest

💡 Grammar Points

Collective Noun

Even though 'tripulación' refers to many people, it is a singular noun in Spanish, so always use singular verbs (e.g., 'La tripulación está lista,' not 'están').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Gender

Mistake: "Usar 'el tripulación' (using the masculine article)."

Correction: Since the word ends in '-ción,' it is always feminine: 'La tripulación.'

⭐ Usage Tips

Specific Context

While 'crew' works for everything, you can specify: 'tripulación de vuelo' (flight crew) or 'tripulación marítima' (maritime crew) for clarity.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: tripulación

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'tripulación'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

tripulante(crew member (person)) - noun

tripular(to crew / to man (a vessel)) - verb

tripulado(manned / crewed) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'tripulación' only used for ships and planes?

No, while it is most common for ships and planes, you can use 'tripulación' for any large vehicle or craft that requires a dedicated staff to operate, such as a spacecraft, a large train, or even a racing car team.