ángeles
/AHN-heh-les/
angels
The word ángeles refers to celestial beings, often depicted with wings and halos.
📝 In Action
Dicen que los ángeles tienen alas grandes y blancas.
A2They say that angels have big, white wings.
En la iglesia, cantamos sobre los ángeles de la guarda.
A2In the church, we sing about guardian angels.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Plural
Even when referring to a group that might include female figures, 'ángeles' remains masculine. Remember, the singular is 'el ángel' (masculine), so the plural is 'los ángeles'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Pronunciation
The 'g' in 'ángeles' sounds like a strong 'h' sound in Spanish (like in 'house'), not the soft 'g' found in English 'angel'.
Ángeles can also be used metaphorically to describe very kind and benevolent people.
ángeles(noun)
angels
?very kind people
darlings
?term of endearment, usually plural
,saints
?extremely good people
📝 In Action
Mis vecinos me ayudaron a mudarme. ¡Son unos ángeles!
B1My neighbors helped me move. They are angels!
Tranquila, tus hijos se portan muy bien; son unos ángeles.
A2Don't worry, your children behave very well; they are little angels.
💡 Grammar Points
Exaggeration for Effect
Using 'ángeles' is a form of hyperbole—it means the person is exceptionally good, not literally a supernatural being. It's a very warm compliment.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Unos/Unas'
When using the figurative sense, it is often paired with 'unos' (for male/mixed groups) or 'unas' (if referring only to a group of women, though 'ángeles' remains masculine, the preceding article can change based on the specific context/region).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ángeles
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'ángeles' in its figurative meaning, referring to good people?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Por qué 'ángeles' es una palabra masculina (los ángeles) si se refiere a seres que no tienen género?
'Ángeles' is masculine (plural of 'el ángel') because of its grammatical history, deriving from a masculine Latin word. Even when referring to a group of female figures, or the concept in general, the word itself takes masculine articles (los) and adjectives.
How do you form the singular of 'ángeles'?
The singular form is 'ángel' (el ángel). Notice the written accent mark moves in the singular form: 'Ángeles' (stress on the first syllable) vs. 'Ángel' (stress also on the first syllable, but the accent is needed to break the normal stress pattern).