Inklingo

How to Say "other" in Spanish

English → Spanish

otro

/OH-troh//ˈo.tɾo/

AdjectiveA1General
Use 'otro' when referring to 'another' or 'a different' single item or person, often implying a choice or repetition.
A person at a cafe table is shown two identical cups of tea; they are pointing to a third, different-looking cup on a tray, indicating a preference for that one.

Examples

¿Quieres otro café?

Do you want another coffee?

Prefiero el otro coche, el azul.

I prefer the other car, the blue one.

Necesito otras llaves para la puerta.

I need other keys for the door.

Matches the Noun's Gender and Number

'Otro' changes to match the thing it describes. Use 'otra' for feminine things (otra casa), 'otros' for masculine plural things (otros libros), and 'otras' for feminine plural things (otras chicas).

Goes Before the Noun

Unlike many Spanish adjectives, 'otro' almost always comes right before the noun it's describing. Think 'otro libro' (another book), not 'libro otro'.

The #1 Mistake: Using 'un' or 'una'

Mistake: “Quiero un otro vaso.”

Correction: Say 'Quiero otro vaso'. In Spanish, 'otro' already includes the idea of 'an' or 'one'. You never need to add 'un' or 'una' before it. Think of 'otro' as meaning 'an-other' all in one word.

demás

Adjective / PronounA2General
Use 'los demás' or 'las demás' to refer to 'the rest' or 'the others' in a group, implying all remaining members.

Examples

Yo me quedo aquí, los demás pueden irse.

I'm staying here, the rest of you can go.

alternativa

ahl-tehr-na-TEE-vah/al.teɾ.naˈti.βa/

AdjectiveB1General
Use 'alternativa' when referring to a 'second choice' or an 'alternative' option, often in contrast to a primary or conventional one.
A simple illustration showing a line of five identical blue cube blocks. One block is replaced by a bright orange sphere, clearly standing out from the others.

Examples

Ella prefiere la medicina alternativa a los tratamientos convencionales.

She prefers alternative medicine over conventional treatments.

Necesitamos fuentes de energía alternativa.

We need alternative energy sources.

Adjective Agreement

This form, 'alternativa,' is used only when describing feminine nouns (like 'medicina' or 'energía'). If the noun were masculine (like 'camino'), you would use 'alternativo'.

Otro vs. Los demás

Learners often confuse 'otro' (another, a different one) with 'los demás' (the rest, the others). Remember that 'otro' refers to a single, different item, while 'los demás' refers to all the remaining people or things in a group.

Related Translations

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