Inklingo

How to Say "domestic" in Spanish

English → Spanish

familiar

/fah-mee-lee-AHR//fa.miˈljar/

adjectiveA1general
Use 'familiar' when referring to something related to home life or family gatherings.
A colorful illustration of a small family unit, consisting of two adults and one child, holding hands and smiling in front of a simple, stylized house.

Examples

Tuvimos una cena familiar muy grande el domingo pasado.

We had a very large family dinner last Sunday.

Ella trabaja en un ambiente familiar y cálido.

She works in a warm, family atmosphere.

Necesitan un coche familiar para viajar con los niños.

They need a family car (estate car) to travel with the children.

Adjective Ending

Even though familiar is an adjective, it always ends in '-r' in the singular, regardless of whether the noun it describes is masculine or feminine (e.g., el árbol familiar and la cena familiar).

nacional

nah-sio-NAHL (or nah-thio-NAHL in Spain)/na.θjoˈnal/

adjectiveA1general
Use 'nacional' to describe something that is within the borders of a country, like a team or a holiday.
A simple, green outline of a country shape with a tall flagpole holding a brightly colored flag planted in the center.

Examples

La selección nacional ganó el partido.

The national team won the game.

El himno nacional es muy emotivo.

The national anthem is very moving.

Necesitamos un debate nacional sobre la educación.

We need a national debate about education.

Gender Agreement (Simplified)

Since 'nacional' ends in -L, it is one of those helpful adjectives that stays the same whether the noun is masculine or feminine (el equipo nacional, la bandera nacional).

Placement

Like most descriptive adjectives in Spanish, 'nacional' usually follows the noun it describes (la economía nacional, not la nacional economía).

nacionales

/nah-syo-NAH-lehs//naθjoˈnales/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'nacionales' when talking about flights within a country or products that are home-grown.
A colorful map of a single country surrounded by a simple blue ocean.

Examples

Hay muchos días festivos nacionales en España.

There are many national holidays in Spain.

Los vuelos nacionales salen de la Terminal 4.

The domestic flights leave from Terminal 4.

One Form for All

This word stays the same whether you are describing a group of men, a group of women, or a mix of both. You don't need to change the ending to 'as'!

interno

een-TEHR-noh/inˈteɾno/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'interno' when referring to matters or problems that are within a country or an organization, not external.
A cross-section view of a simple, colorful house, revealing a brightly lit, cozy room inside with furniture.

Examples

El motor tiene un problema interno que no podemos ver.

The engine has an internal problem that we cannot see.

La política interna de la empresa cambió la semana pasada.

The company's internal policy changed last week.

Sentí una alegría interna muy grande después de ganar.

I felt a very great inner joy after winning.

Gender Agreement

As an adjective, 'interno' must change its ending to match the noun it describes. Use 'interna' for feminine nouns (e.g., 'política interna') and 'internos'/'internas' for plural nouns.

Confusing Adjective and Adverb

Mistake: “Usar 'internamente' cuando se necesita el adjetivo. (e.g., 'El daño fue internamente')”

Correction: Use the adjective form: 'El daño fue interno.' 'Internamente' (internally) is an adverb describing how an action is done.

familiares

/fah-mee-lee-AH-rehs//fa.miˈlja.ɾes/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'familiares' when something is familiar or known to you, often related to people or information you know.
A storybook illustration of a well-loved, worn teddy bear sitting on a wooden shelf next to a stack of comfortable blankets, symbolizing something known and familiar.

Examples

Esos nombres no me son familiares.

Those names aren't familiar to me.

Las caras familiares en la reunión me dieron tranquilidad.

The familiar faces at the meeting gave me peace of mind.

Adoptamos unos modales más familiares en la cena.

We adopted more casual manners at dinner.

Adjective Agreement

Since 'familiares' is plural, it must always describe a plural noun. If the noun is feminine (like 'caras'), the form is still 'familiares' because the base word 'familiar' is one of those adjectives that doesn't change based on gender.

Placement Error

Mistake: “Unos familiares problemas.”

Correction: Unos problemas familiares. When referring to 'family-related' issues, the adjective usually follows the noun.

Confusing 'Familiar' and 'Internal'

Learners often confuse 'familiar' (related to home/family) with 'interno' (internal affairs within a country). Remember that 'familiar' relates to the home environment or family members, while 'interno' refers to domestic politics or internal issues of a nation.

Related Translations

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