Inklingo

How to Say "society" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “society” is “sociedad” — use 'sociedad' when referring to the general community, the collective structure of people living together, or the broader concept of human society..

English → Spanish

sociedad

soh-see-eh-DAHD/so.sjeˈðað/

nounA2general
Use 'sociedad' when referring to the general community, the collective structure of people living together, or the broader concept of human society.
A high quality storybook illustration showing five diverse people (adults and children) standing together in a circle and holding hands, symbolizing society and community.

Examples

Vivimos en una sociedad muy diversa.

We live in a very diverse society.

La sociedad civil protestó contra la nueva ley.

Civil society protested against the new law.

El bienestar de la sociedad es responsabilidad de todos.

The well-being of society is everyone's responsibility.

Feminine Ending

Words in Spanish that end in -dad, like 'sociedad' (or 'ciudad' and 'libertad'), are almost always feminine and require feminine articles (la sociedad).

Incorrect Gender

Mistake: “El sociedad es importante.”

Correction: La sociedad es importante. Remember, it is a feminine noun.

asociación

nounA2general
Choose 'asociación' for a group of people formally joined together for a specific, shared purpose or interest, like a club or organization.

Examples

Mi abuela es miembro de una asociación de jardinería.

My grandmother is a member of a gardening association.

hermandad

/er-man-DAD//eɾmanˈdað/

nounB2formal
Use 'hermandad' to describe a formal club or association, often with historical or religious ties, particularly common in certain cultural traditions like processions.
An illustration of four figures wearing matching, simple dark cloaks standing formally in a line, representing a religious society or confraternity.

Examples

La hermandad de la ciudad prepara los pasos para la procesión anual.

The city's confraternity prepares the floats for the annual procession.

Mi abuelo pertenecía a una hermandad de pescadores.

My grandfather belonged to a guild of fishermen.

Specific Context

When 'hermandad' refers to an organization, it implies a formal, often historic or religious group, unlike the general English word 'club'.

civilización

nounB1general
Employ 'civilización' when referring to a large, complex, and organized human society, often with distinct cultural achievements and historical significance.

Examples

La civilización maya construyó pirámides impresionantes.

The Mayan civilization built impressive pyramids.

General Society vs. Specific Group

The most common mistake is using 'sociedad' when you mean a specific type of group like a club or organization. Remember, 'asociación' and 'hermandad' refer to these more defined groups, while 'sociedad' is the broad term for the community as a whole.

Related Translations

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