How to Say "soldier" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “soldier” is “militar” — use 'militar' when referring to someone who serves in the armed forces as a profession or a general member of the military, often implying a career..
militar
mee-lee-TAR/miliˈtaɾ/
Examples
Mi tío es militar y trabaja lejos de casa.
My uncle is a soldier and works far from home.
El militar recibió un premio por su valentía.
The service member received an award for his bravery.
Gender and People
Although 'militar' is a masculine noun referring to the person, it often refers to both men and women. For women, you might hear 'la militar' or sometimes 'la mujer militar'.
Confusing 'militar' and 'soldado'
Mistake: “Using 'soldado' for high-ranking officers.”
Correction: 'Militar' is a general term for anyone in the armed forces (officer, private, etc.), while 'soldado' usually means a lower-ranking private.
soldado
sohl-DAH-doh/solˈdaðo/
Examples
Mi tío es un soldado que sirve en la armada.
My uncle is a soldier who serves in the navy.
Vimos una estatua del soldado desconocido en la plaza central.
We saw a statue of the unknown soldier in the central square.
Gender Use
Even when referring to a woman in the military, the masculine form 'soldado' is often used, preceded by 'la' (e.g., 'la soldado'). The term 'soldada' exists but is much less common.
Militar vs. Soldado
Related Translations
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