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.
Use 'sociedad' when referring to the general community, the collective structure of people living together, or the broader concept of human society.
Learn more →Choose 'asociación' for a group of people formally joined together for a specific, shared purpose or interest, like a club or organization.
Learn more →
Use 'hermandad' to describe a formal club or association, often with historical or religious ties, particularly common in certain cultural traditions like processions.
Learn more →Employ 'civilización' when referring to a large, complex, and organized human society, often with distinct cultural achievements and historical significance.
Learn more →soh-see-eh-DAHDso.sjeˈðað
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
Examples
Mi abuela es miembro de una asociación de jardinería.
My grandmother is a member of a gardening association.
er-man-DADeɾmanˈdað
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
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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