How to Say "alien" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “alien” is “extraterrestre” — use this when referring to a creature or being explicitly from another planet or outer space.
extraterrestre
eks-tra-te-RRES-trehekstɾateˈrestɾe
Examples
Los científicos creen que el universo podría estar lleno de vida extraterrestre.
Scientists believe the universe could be full of extraterrestrial life.
Mi hermano dice que vio un extraterrestre cerca del bosque.
My brother says he saw an alien near the forest.
La película trata sobre un grupo de extraterrestres que invaden la Tierra.
The movie is about a group of aliens who invade Earth.
Gender Stays the Same
This noun is special because its ending never changes, regardless of the person's biological gender. You use 'el' (for a male alien) and 'la' (for a female alien), but the word itself is always 'extraterrestre'.
Confusing Noun and Adjective
Mistake: “Usar 'un vida extraterrestre' (mixing up noun and adjective forms).”
Correction: Use 'un extraterrestre' (the being) or 'vida extraterrestre' (the adjective). They look the same but play different roles.
alienígena
Examples
En la película, el alienígena intenta comunicarse con los humanos.
In the movie, the alien tries to communicate with humans.
alien
AH-lee-enˈaljen
Examples
El niño dibujó un alien con tres ojos y antenas.
The child drew an alien with three eyes and antennae.
Mi película favorita trata de un alien que se pierde en la Tierra.
My favorite movie is about an alien who gets lost on Earth.
Los científicos buscan señales de vida alien en otros planetas.
Scientists are looking for signs of alien life on other planets.
El diseño del alien era muy aterrador y original.
The design of the alien was very scary and original.
A Borrowed Word
This word is taken directly from English. In Spanish, it usually describes a science-fiction creature rather than a person from another country.
The Plural Form
Because it's a borrowed word, you might hear people say 'los alien' or 'los aliens'. Both are used, but 'los aliens' is very common in casual speech.
Don't use for 'Foreigner'
Mistake: “Calling a person from another country 'un alien'.”
Correction: Use 'extranjero' for people. In Spanish, 'alien' almost always refers to space creatures.
alienígena
Examples
La nave espacial contenía tecnología alienígena avanzada.
The spaceship contained advanced alien technology.
extranjera
eks-trahn-HEH-raheks.tɾan.ˈxe.ɾa
Examples
Prefiero ver películas de producción extranjera.
I prefer to watch films of foreign production.
Me encanta ver cine y películas de cinematografía extranjera.
I love watching foreign cinema and films.
Ella habla una lengua extranjera muy bien.
She speaks a foreign language very well.
Matching the Ending
Because this ends in 'a', it must describe 'feminine' words like 'comida' (food) or 'película' (movie). If you describe a 'masculine' word, you must use 'extranjero' instead.
Using the wrong gender
Mistake: “El idioma extranjera.”
Correction: El idioma extranjero. Even though 'idioma' ends in 'a', it is actually a masculine word, so the description must match it.
forastero
fo-ras-TEH-rofoɾasˈteɾo
Examples
Sus ideas parecían forasteras en nuestra pequeña comunidad.
His ideas seemed foreign in our small community.
Trajeron costumbres forasteras que nadie entendía.
They brought outside customs that no one understood.
Ese acento forastero delataba su origen.
That foreign accent gave away his origin.
La influencia forastera cambió el estilo de la arquitectura local.
Outside influence changed the style of local architecture.
Matching the Noun
As a describing word, it must match what it describes. For a feminine thing like 'costumbre' (custom), use 'forastera'.
Confusing with 'Extraño'
Mistake: “Using 'forastero' to mean 'weird'.”
Correction: Use 'forastero' to mean 'from another place'. If something is just 'weird' or 'strange' in character, use 'extraño' or 'raro'.
Alien vs. Foreign
Related Translations
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