Inklingo

How to Say "characters" in Spanish

English → Spanish

personajes

pehr-soh-NAH-hess/peɾsoˈnaxes/

nounB1
Use 'personajes' when referring to the people or figures within a story, film, play, or other narrative work.
A storybook illustration showing three diverse fictional characters: a knight in shining armor, a princess wearing a crown, and a friendly green alien, standing together.

Examples

Los personajes principales de la novela son muy complejos.

The main characters of the novel are very complex.

¿Cuáles son tus personajes favoritos de la serie?

Who are your favorite characters from the series?

El director presentó a los personajes antes de empezar la obra.

The director introduced the characters before the play started.

The Fixed Gender of 'Personaje'

Even though 'personaje' refers to people of any gender, the word itself is always masculine. You must use 'el personaje' or 'los personajes,' never 'la personaje,' even if referring to a female character.

Confusing Gender

Mistake: “La personajes son interesantes.”

Correction: Los personajes son interesantes. Remember the article must match the noun's grammatical gender (masculine), not the character's real-life gender.

letras

/LEH-tras//ˈle.tɾas/

nounA1
Use 'letras' to refer to the individual written symbols that make up words, like letters of the alphabet.
A simple wooden tray filled with many small, colorful, distinct geometric shapes (squares, triangles, circles), suggesting the components of written language.

Examples

¿Cuántas letras tiene la palabra 'paraguas'?

How many letters does the word 'paraguas' have?

El niño está aprendiendo a reconocer las letras mayúsculas.

The child is learning to recognize the capital letters.

Always Feminine Plural

Even though it refers to basic symbols, remember 'letras' is always a feminine noun, so you use 'las' (the) or 'estas' (these) with it.

Confusing 'letras' and 'números'

Mistake: “Usar 'letras' para referirse a cifras.”

Correction: Use 'números' (numbers) for digits and 'letras' for alphabetical characters.

individuos

/een-dee-BEE-dwos//indiˈβiðwos/

nounB2formal/suspicious
Use 'individuos' to refer to specific people, often with a slightly formal or even suspicious connotation, like 'individuals' or 'gents'.
Three mysterious people wearing long coats and hats pulled low, whispering in a dimly lit alleyway.

Examples

Había dos individuos merodeando por el edificio.

There were two characters/guys loitering around the building.

Characters in stories vs. people

The most common mistake is using 'individuos' or 'letras' when you mean characters in a story. Remember that 'personajes' is specifically for fictional or theatrical figures, while 'individuos' refers to real people, and 'letras' are written symbols.

Related Translations

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