Inklingo

How to Say "adult" in Spanish

English → Spanish

adulto

/ah-DOOL-toh//aˈðul.to/

nounA1general
Use 'adulto' when referring to a grown-up person in a general sense, often in formal contexts like signing documents.
A simple illustration of a tall, grown-up person standing confidently. They are wearing casual, simple adult attire.

Examples

Necesitas ser un adulto para firmar este contrato.

You need to be an adult to sign this contract.

La entrada para los adultos cuesta diez euros.

The ticket for the adults costs ten euros.

Cuando era niño, pensaba que ser adulto era fácil.

When I was a child, I thought being a grown-up was easy.

Este programa tiene contenido adulto, no es para niños.

This program has adult content; it is not for children.

Gender Matching for Nouns

Remember that 'adulto' is masculine, used for men or when talking about a group that includes both men and women. If you are specifically talking about a woman, you must use 'adulta'.

Adjective Agreement

As an adjective, 'adulto' must change its ending to match the thing it describes in number (singular/plural) and gender (masculine/feminine). For example: 'temas adultos' (adult topics, plural masculine) or 'actitud adulta' (adult attitude, singular feminine).

Confusing Noun and Adjective

Mistake: “Using 'adulto' to describe a feminine noun without changing the ending (e.g., 'una mujer adulto').”

Correction: The adjective must match the noun: 'una mujer adulta' (a grown-up woman).

adulto

/ah-DOOL-toh//aˈðul.to/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'adulto' as an adjective to describe content or situations intended for grown-ups, not children.
A simple illustration of a tall, grown-up person standing confidently. They are wearing casual, simple adult attire.

Examples

Este programa tiene contenido adulto, no es para niños.

This program has adult content; it is not for children.

Necesitas ser un adulto para firmar este contrato.

You need to be an adult to sign this contract.

La entrada para los adultos cuesta diez euros.

The ticket for the adults costs ten euros.

Cuando era niño, pensaba que ser adulto era fácil.

When I was a child, I thought being a grown-up was easy.

Gender Matching for Nouns

Remember that 'adulto' is masculine, used for men or when talking about a group that includes both men and women. If you are specifically talking about a woman, you must use 'adulta'.

Adjective Agreement

As an adjective, 'adulto' must change its ending to match the thing it describes in number (singular/plural) and gender (masculine/feminine). For example: 'temas adultos' (adult topics, plural masculine) or 'actitud adulta' (adult attitude, singular feminine).

Confusing Noun and Adjective

Mistake: “Using 'adulto' to describe a feminine noun without changing the ending (e.g., 'una mujer adulto').”

Correction: The adjective must match the noun: 'una mujer adulta' (a grown-up woman).

mayor

/mah-YOR//maˈʝoɾ/

adjectiveB1legal
Use 'mayor' when referring to the legal status of being old enough to vote or have certain rights.
An adult hand dropping a folded white paper into a tall, official ballot box, symbolizing being of legal age to vote.

Examples

Tienes que ser mayor de edad para votar.

You have to be of legal age to vote.

Cuando seas mayor de edad, podrás conducir solo.

When you are of legal age, you will be able to drive alone.

Debemos cuidar a nuestros mayores.

We must take care of our elders.

Hay un descuento para mayores en el museo.

There is a discount for senior citizens at the museum.

Using 'Los' or 'Las'

When used as a noun, you'll almost always see it with an article like 'los mayores' (the elderly people/men) or 'las mayores' (the elderly women).

grande

/GRAHN-deh//ˈɡɾande/

adjectiveB1colloquial
Use 'grande' when a child expresses a desire to be grown-up in the future, similar to 'grown-up' or 'big'.
A small child wearing an oversized white doctor's coat that is too big, standing next to a fully grown adult in a neat matching doctor's coat, illustrating the concept of being grown-up.

Examples

Cuando sea grande, quiero ser médico.

When I'm grown-up, I want to be a doctor.

Mi hermano grande vive en otra ciudad.

My older brother lives in another city.

Ya eres grande para creer en fantasmas.

You're too old/grown-up to believe in ghosts.

mayor

/mah-YOR//maˈʝoɾ/

nounB1formal/respectful
Use 'mayores' (plural) to refer to elderly people or elders with respect, often in contexts of care or family.
An adult hand dropping a folded white paper into a tall, official ballot box, symbolizing being of legal age to vote.

Examples

Debemos cuidar a nuestros mayores.

We must take care of our elders.

Tienes que ser mayor de edad para votar.

You have to be of legal age to vote.

Cuando seas mayor de edad, podrás conducir solo.

When you are of legal age, you will be able to drive alone.

Hay un descuento para mayores en el museo.

There is a discount for senior citizens at the museum.

Using 'Los' or 'Las'

When used as a noun, you'll almost always see it with an article like 'los mayores' (the elderly people/men) or 'las mayores' (the elderly women).

Adulto vs. Grande

Learners often confuse 'adulto' and 'grande'. Remember that 'adulto' is the direct translation for a grown person or adult content. 'Grande' is used by children when talking about their future selves, meaning 'grown-up' or 'big', not a current adult state.

Related Translations

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