Inklingo

How to Say "crowd" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “crowd” is “gente” — use 'gente' when referring to a general mass or number of people, such as in a public place..

English → Spanish

gente

/HEN-teh//ˈxente/

nounA1general
Use 'gente' when referring to a general mass or number of people, such as in a public place.
A diverse group of people of different ages and ethnicities mingling in a sunny park, representing 'gente' as people in general.

Examples

Había mucha gente en el concierto.

There were a lot of people at the concert.

Hay mucha gente en la playa hoy.

There are a lot of people at the beach today.

La gente de aquí es muy amable.

The people from here are very kind.

No me importa lo que piense la gente.

I don't care what people think.

A Group, Not Individuals

Think of 'gente' like 'the crowd' or 'the public' in English. Even though it means many people, the word itself is treated as one single, feminine thing. So, you always say 'la gente'.

Using Plural Verbs

Mistake: “La gente son interesantes.”

Correction: La gente es interesante. Because 'gente' is a singular word, the verb connected to it must also be singular ('es', not 'son').

multitud

mool-tee-TOOD/multiˈtuð/

nounB1general
Use 'multitud' for a large, gathered group of people, often implying excitement or a significant event.
A dense gathering of many stylized, colorful human figures standing shoulder-to-shoulder, representing a crowd.

Examples

La multitud aplaudió al artista.

The crowd applauded the artist.

La multitud gritaba de emoción cuando el equipo ganó.

The crowd was shouting with excitement when the team won.

La policía tuvo que dispersar a la multitud de manifestantes.

The police had to disperse the crowd of protesters.

Había una multitud tan grande que era imposible caminar.

There was such a large crowd that it was impossible to walk.

Singular Noun, Plural Idea

Even though 'multitud' refers to many people, it is a single, feminine noun, so you use 'la' and the verbs are conjugated in the singular form (e.g., 'La multitud estaba feliz').

masa

MAH-sah/ˈma.sa/

nounB2general/formal
Use 'masa' to describe a large, undifferentiated group of people, often with a focus on their collective influence or lack of individuality.
A vast, tightly packed crowd composed of countless tiny, colorful, simplified human figures stretching into the background.

Examples

El político habló a la masa reunida.

The politician spoke to the assembled masses.

La televisión tiene una gran influencia sobre la masa.

Television has a great influence over the masses (the public).

Se formó una masa de manifestantes frente al edificio del gobierno.

A crowd of protestors formed in front of the government building.

Singular Noun, Plural Idea

When 'masa' means 'the masses' or 'the public,' it is treated as a singular noun, even though it refers to many people. Use singular verbs: 'La masa piensa...' (The masses think...).

tribu

TREE-boo/ˈtɾiβu/

nounB2informal
Use 'tribu' informally to refer to a close-knit group or social circle, like a 'crew' or 'gang' of friends.
A dense mass of many indistinct people packed tightly together, forming a large, colorful crowd filling a public space.

Examples

Voy a la montaña con mi tribu.

I'm going to the mountains with my tribe/crew.

Me voy de vacaciones con mi tribu de amigos de la universidad.

I'm going on vacation with my crew of friends from the university.

Cada uno tiene su propia tribu urbana: los góticos, los hipsters...

Everyone has their own urban tribe (subculture): the Goths, the hipsters...

Metaphorical Use

In modern Spanish, 'tribu' often implies a sense of deep loyalty and shared identity, much like the English phrase 'my people' or 'my crew'.

bola

/boh-lah//ˈbo.la/

nounC1informal
Use 'bola' informally to describe a group of people, often with a negative connotation of trouble or a mess.
A chaotic tangle of thick, brightly colored yarn and rope creating a massive, complicated knot.

Examples

No te acerques a esa bola de gente alterada.

Don't go near that group of agitated people.

No te metas en esa bola de problemas; es mejor ignorarlos.

Don't get involved in that mess of problems; it's better to ignore them.

Toda la situación se hizo una bola, y nadie sabía cómo resolverlo.

The whole situation got complicated (literally: became a ball), and nobody knew how to solve it.

Translating Idioms

Mistake: “Using 'Hacer una bola' to mean 'to make a ball for a game.'”

Correction: When talking about situations, 'Hacerse una bola' means the situation got messy or complicated. For a physical ball, use 'hacer una pelota'.

Choosing between 'gente' and 'multitud'

Learners often confuse 'gente' and 'multitud'. Remember that 'gente' is a more general term for people, while 'multitud' specifically refers to a large, gathered group, often at an event. Think of 'gente' as simply 'people' and 'multitud' as a more distinct 'crowd'.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.