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How to Say "us" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “us” is “nos” — use 'nos' when 'us' is the direct or indirect object of a verb, meaning the action is being done to 'we' or for 'we'..

English → Spanish

nos

/nohs//nos/

pronounA1general
Use 'nos' when 'us' is the direct or indirect object of a verb, meaning the action is being done to 'we' or for 'we'.
A person handing a gift box to a group of two people, representing the action being done 'to us'.

Examples

Ella nos llama todos los días.

She calls us every day.

El profesor nos dio la tarea.

The teacher gave us the homework.

¿Nos puedes ayudar, por favor?

Can you help us, please?

Where Does 'Nos' Go?

'Nos' usually comes right before the verb. For example, 'Ella nos ve' (She sees us), not 'Ella ve nos'.

Two Verbs? Two Choices!

When you have two verbs together, like 'querer + another verb', you can put 'nos' before the first verb OR attach it to the end of the second one. 'Nos quiere ver' or 'Quiere vernos' both mean 'He wants to see us'.

Forgetting 'a nosotros'

Mistake: “Using just 'nos' when you want to emphasize 'us'.”

Correction: To add emphasis or clarity, you can add 'a nosotros'. For example, 'A nosotros, nos gusta el chocolate.' (WE like chocolate.)

estadounidense

es-ta-doh-oo-nee-DEN-seh/estadowniˈðense/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'estadounidense' as an adjective to describe something or someone as belonging to or originating from the United States.
A simple drawing of the United States Capitol building, rendered in patriotic red, white, and blue colors, set against a bright sky, symbolizing something belonging to the United States.

Examples

La bandera estadounidense tiene estrellas y franjas.

The US flag has stars and stripes.

Necesito un visado para trabajar en territorio estadounidense.

I need a visa to work in US territory.

Always the Same Form

Unlike most Spanish adjectives, 'estadounidense' does not change its ending based on whether the noun is masculine or feminine (e.g., 'la cultura estadounidense', 'el gobierno estadounidense').

Making it Plural

To talk about multiple things, just add an 's' at the end: 'las costumbres estadounidenses' (the US customs).

Confusing 'Americano'

Mistake: “Using 'americano' as an adjective for 'US' things.”

Correction: While sometimes used informally, 'americano' officially means 'of the Americas' (North, Central, or South). Use 'estadounidense' for clarity to mean 'of the U.S.'.

americano

ah-meh-ree-KAH-noh/ameɾiˈkano/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'americano' as an adjective, often informally or as an abbreviation, to refer to something or someone from the United States, especially when contrasting with other nationalities.
A simple drawing of a Bald Eagle, the national bird of the United States, perched on a branch.

Examples

Mi amigo tiene doble nacionalidad: es mexicano y americano.

My friend has dual nationality: he is Mexican and American (from the U.S.).

Compramos un coche americano.

We bought an American car (a U.S. manufactured car).

Alternative Word

To avoid confusion, many Spanish speakers prefer using 'estadounidense' when specifically referring to things or people from the United States.

nosotras

noh-SOH-trahs/noˈsotɾas/

pronounA1general
Use 'nosotras' as the subject pronoun 'we' when referring specifically to a group of females, or when 'us' is used after a preposition and you want to emphasize the group of females.
Three cheerful young girls standing side-by-side, looking forward and smiling, representing a female group using the pronoun 'we'.

Examples

Nosotras queremos ir a la playa este fin de semana.

We want to go to the beach this weekend.

¿Qué vamos a hacer? Nosotras tenemos la clave del éxito.

What are we going to do? We have the key to success.

Ellos pensaron que no podríamos, pero nosotras demostramos lo contrario.

They thought we couldn't, but we proved otherwise.

The Gender of 'We'

Use 'nosotras' only when every single person in the 'we' group is female. If the group includes even one male person, you must switch to the masculine form, 'nosotros'.

Confusing 'Nosotras' and 'Nosotros'

Mistake: “A group of women saying 'Nosotros estamos listas' (We are ready).”

Correction: They should say 'Nosotras estamos listas.' The pronoun must match the group's gender.

Pronoun vs. Nationality

The most common mistake is confusing the pronoun 'nos' (us) with the adjectives 'americano' or 'estadounidense' (American). Remember that 'nos' is a pronoun indicating who receives an action, while the others describe nationality.

Related Translations

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