Inklingo

How to Say "societal" in Spanish

English → Spanish

social

soh-see-AHL/soˈsjal/

adjectiveA1general
Use 'social' when referring to general issues or matters that affect society as a whole, often in a broad or informal sense.
Three colorful, stylized figures (people) standing in a circle and holding hands, illustrating community and social connection.

Examples

Los problemas sociales requieren soluciones comunitarias.

Social problems require community solutions.

Ella es una persona muy social y tiene muchos amigos.

She is a very social person and has many friends.

Usamos las redes sociales para comunicarnos.

We use social networks to communicate.

Adjective Agreement

As an adjective ending in -l, 'social' does not change form for masculine or feminine nouns (e.g., 'problema social' and 'red social'). It only changes for plural: 'sociales'.

Placement

Like most descriptive adjectives, 'social' usually comes after the noun it describes (e.g., 'el impacto social').

Using the wrong plural form

Mistake: “Decir 'problemas social'”

Correction: Say 'problemas sociales'. Adjectives ending in a consonant form the plural by adding -es.

sociales

soh-syah-less/soˈθjales/

adjectiveA1formal/academic
Use 'sociales' (the plural form) in formal or academic writing and speech, particularly when discussing specific phenomena within society, like social media or social studies.
A simple illustration depicting a group of four diverse people standing together, smiling and engaged in friendly conversation, representing social interaction.

Examples

Las redes sociales han cambiado la forma en que nos comunicamos.

Social networks have changed the way we communicate.

Hay muchos problemas sociales que debemos resolver.

There are many social problems that we must solve.

Los eventos sociales de la empresa son muy divertidos.

The company's social events are very fun.

Adjective Agreement

'Sociales' is the plural form of 'social'. It must match the noun it describes in number (plural) and can be used with both masculine and feminine nouns (e.g., 'problemas sociales' or 'redes sociales').

Using the Singular with Plural Nouns

Mistake: “Tengo problemas social.”

Correction: Tengo problemas sociales. (The adjective must be plural to match the plural noun 'problemas'.)

Choosing Between 'Social' and 'Sociales'

The most common mistake is using the singular 'social' when the plural 'sociales' is required, especially in academic contexts or when referring to plural concepts like 'social media' (redes sociales). Always check if you need the singular or plural form based on the noun it modifies.

Related Translations

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