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How to Say "extraterrestrial" in Spanish

English → Spanish

alienígena

nounA2general
Use this when referring to a being or creature that comes from another planet.

Examples

El niño dijo que había visto un alienígena en el bosque.

The boy said he had seen an alien in the forest.

alienígena

adjectiveB1general
Use this adjective to describe things or phenomena that are related to or originate from beings from outside Earth.

Examples

Los científicos investigan la tecnología alienígena recuperada.

Scientists are investigating the recovered alien technology.

extraterrestre

eks-tra-te-RRES-treh/ekstɾateˈrestɾe/

adjectiveB2general
Use this adjective specifically when describing things that originate from beyond Earth, without necessarily implying a living being.
A stylized depiction of a bright yellow moon floating in the dark blue void of space.

Examples

Los científicos buscan rastros de agua extraterrestre en la Luna.

Scientists are looking for traces of extraterrestrial water on the Moon.

Ese fenómeno no parece tener un origen terrestre, sino más bien extraterrestre.

That phenomenon doesn't seem to have an earthly origin, but rather an extraterrestrial one.

Adjective Agreement (Number)

Although the adjective does not change for gender, it must still change for number. For example: 'la roca extraterrestre' (singular rock) vs. 'las rocas extraterrestres' (plural rocks).

Noun vs. Adjective: Alienígena vs. Extraterrestre

The most common mistake is using 'extraterrestre' as a noun to refer to an alien being. Remember that 'alienígena' is the standard noun for an extraterrestrial creature, while 'extraterrestre' is primarily used as an adjective to describe anything not from Earth.

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