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How to Say "military" in Spanish

English → Spanish

ejército

NounA2General
Use 'ejército' when referring to the armed forces as a whole, the institution, or the collective body of soldiers.

Examples

Mi hermano se alistó en el ejército el año pasado.

My brother enlisted in the army last year.

militar

mee-lee-TARmiliˈtaɾ

AdjectiveA2General
Use 'militar' as an adjective to describe something that pertains to or is connected with the armed forces.
A large, sturdy green military transport helicopter flying low across a simple landscape.

Examples

El servicio militar es obligatorio en algunos países.

Military service is mandatory in some countries.

La base militar está cerca de la ciudad.

The military base is close to the city.

Adjective Position

Like many descriptive adjectives, 'militar' usually goes after the noun it describes: 'un desfile militar' (a military parade).

militares

mee-lee-TAH-resmiliˈtaɾes

AdjectiveB1General
Use 'militares' (plural) as an adjective when referring to multiple operations, actions, or resources related to armed forces or war.
A heavy green military tank with a long cannon parked on a dirt field.

Examples

Necesitan más recursos para las operaciones militares.

They need more resources for the military operations.

Las bases militares están en zonas estratégicas.

The military bases are in strategic zones.

Invariable Ending

The adjective 'militar' (and its plural 'militares') is one of those adjectives that works for both masculine and feminine nouns. For example, 'operaciones militares' (feminine) and 'conflictos militares' (masculine).

bélico

AdjectiveB2General
Use 'bélico' as an adjective to describe something specifically related to war, combat, or armed conflict, often with a more intense connotation.

Examples

Me encantan las películas de género bélico.

I love movies in the war genre.

Noun vs. Adjective Confusion

The most common mistake is using 'ejército' (the noun for the army) when an adjective is needed. Remember, 'ejército' refers to the institution itself, while 'militar' and 'bélico' describe things *related* to the armed forces or war.

Related Translations

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