Spanish · People & Family

"Man" in Spanish: hombre

el hombre

Say it: OHM-brehmasculine · el hombrenoun/ˈom.bɾe/

Man in Spanish is el hombre (OHM-breh). It is masculine: un hombre, ese hombre. The plural is los hombres.

At a café

Hay un hombre en la puerta.
There is a man at the door.
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How to pronounce hombre

Say it

OHM-breh

/ˈom.bɾe/

OHM-breh for hombre. Stress OHM. Soft b between vowels.

"Man" in Spanish: quick reference

SpanishEnglish
el hombrethe man

Default with the article.

un hombrea man

Introducing someone unknown.

ese hombrethat man

Pointing someone out.

los hombresthe men

Plural form.

How to use hombre in real life

  1. 1At a café

    Hay un hombre en la puerta.

    There is a man at the door.

    Un hombre for an unknown man.

  2. 2Giving directions

    Pregúntale a ese hombre.

    Ask that man.

    Ese hombre when pointing.

  3. 3Family talk

    El hombre de la foto es mi papá.

    The man in the photo is my dad.

    El hombre with a clear referent.

Mistakes English speakers make with hombre

Incorrect: La hombre está aquí.

Correct: El hombre está aquí.

Hombre is masculine. Use el, un, and ese.

Incorrect: Los hombres altosas.

Correct: Los hombres altos.

Match plural hombres with altos, not a mixed ending.

Good to know

In Latin America, hombre is the neutral word for an adult male. Señor is more polite than hombre in address. Keep hombre for clear, everyday Spanish.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Waiting outside a clinic

  1. ChatPal

    ¿Viste al hombre de la gorra?

    Did you see the man with the cap?

  2. You

    Sí. Ese hombre habla con la enfermera.

    Yes. That man is talking to the nurse.

  3. ChatPal

    Creo que es el siguiente.

    I think he is next.

  4. You

    Ok. Espéremoslo un momento.

    Ok. Let’s wait a moment.

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"Man" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Man" in Spanish

Is hombre masculine or feminine?

Masculine: el hombre, un hombre, los hombres.

What is the plural of hombre?

Los hombres. Drop nothing; add -s.

Can hombre mean “guy”?

Yes in casual talk. Señor is more polite.

How do you pronounce hombre?

OHM-breh. Stress the first syllable.

Learn a word, then use it out loud

  1. Step 1: See it in context
  2. Step 2: Say it out loud
  3. Step 3: Get feedback
  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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