Nationalities in Spanish
Nationalities in Spanish:
discover ethnic names and cultures
Spanish gentilicios are fundamental to identify a person's nationality and to locate his or her origin. In this article, we will explore the most relevant aspects of gentilicios: their endings, regional variations and exceptions. In addition, we will present a list of countries and their corresponding gentilicios in Spanish, and analyze terminological differences. Finally, we will propose playful activities to practice vocabulary of nationalities.
Understanding gentilicios in Spanish
Gentilicios are adjectives that describe the nationality or geographic origin of an individual or place. Beyond their grammatical function, they reflect the cultural identity of each Spanish-speaking community.
What are gentilicios?
A gentilicio is the adjectival form that indicates where someone is from. For example, "argentino" designates a person from Argentina, while "brasileƱo" indicates someone from Brazil. These terms not only provide linguistic precision, but also convey cultural and social nuances of each country.
Main endings of the gentilics
The formation of gentilicios in Spanish varies according to the origin and linguistic tradition of each region.
Most frequent endings
-ano/-anaas in "mexican/mexicana".
-ego/-egaas in "Greek/Greek".
-enseas in "Canadian".
-ino/-inaas in "Chinese".
-design/-designeras in "salvadoreƱo/salvadoreƱa".
Exceptions and regional variations
Although the above endings are common, there are numerous exceptions and local forms. For example, in some regions, different gentilisms are used for the same country, reflecting its cultural and dialectal diversity.
Countries and their names in Spanish
The cultural richness of the Spanish-speaking world is evident in the diversity of the gentilicios that exist. Below you will find an extensive list of countries grouped by continent along with their Spanish gentilicios.
Europa
| Country | Gentilicio |
|---|---|
| Spain | Spanish |
| Germany | German/ana |
| France | French/English |
| United Kingdom | British |
| Italy | Italian |
| Russia | Russian |
| Switzerland | Swiss |
| Netherlands | Dutch/English |
| Sweden | Swedish |
| Norway | Norwegian |
| Finland | Finnish/English |
| Poland | Polish |
| Greece | Greek |
| Portugal | Portuguese/esa |
| Belgium | Belgian |
Ā
America
| Country | Gentilicio |
|---|---|
| Argentina | Argentine |
| Chile | Chilean |
| Colombia | Colombian |
| Peru | Peruvian |
| Mexico | Mexican |
| Venezuela | Venezuelan |
| Ecuador | Ecuadorian |
| Bolivia | Bolivian |
| Uruguay | Uruguayan |
| Paraguay | Paraguayan |
| Cuba | Cuban |
| Dominican Republic | Dominican |
| Costa Rica | Costa Rican |
| Panama | Panamanian |
| Guatemala | Guatemalan |
| United States | American |
| Canada | Canadian |
Ā
Asia
| Country | Gentilicio |
|---|---|
| China | Chinese |
| Japan | Japanese |
| India | Indian |
| South Korea | South Korean |
| North Korea | North Korean |
| Saudi Arabia | Saudi |
| United Arab Emirates | Emirati |
| Israel | Israeli |
| Turkey | Turkish |
| Iran | Iranian |
Ā
Africa
| Country | Gentilicio |
|---|---|
| Egypt | Egyptian |
| Morocco | Moroccan |
| Algeria | Algerian |
| Nigeria | Nigerian |
| South Africa | South African |
| Ethiopia | Ethiopian |
| Kenya | Kenyan |
| Ghana | Ghanaian/English |
| Uganda | Ugandan/Ugandan |
| Tunisia | Tunisian |
Ā
Oceania
| Country | Gentilicio |
|---|---|
| Australia | Australian |
| New Zealand | New Zealander/English |
| Fiji | Fijian |
| Papua New Guinea | Papuan |
| Samoa | Samoan |
Note:
For a complete list with the 193 member countries of the UN and their official gentilisms, you can consult the TERMIUM Plus (2017) resource covering all internationally recognized nations btb.termiumplus.gc.ca.
In Spain, in addition to the national gentilicios, there are specific forms for autonomous communities and provinces, listed in the annexes of Wikipedia ("Gentilicios de EspaƱa"). Wikipedia in English
Regional differences in terminology
Some gentilicios vary according to local usage. For example, in Latin America "norte-americano" is preferred to refer to citizens of the United States, while in the United States itself "americano" is more common. These distinctions respond to historical and cultural nuances.
Spanish vs. Castilian: terminology and usage
The distinction between "Spanish" and "Castilian" generates debate. "Castilian" refers to the original dialect of Castile, while "Spanish" encompasses all the language spoken in Spain and Latin America. The Real Academia EspaƱola recommends "Spanish" in formal contexts to avoid ambiguity.
Use of the term "American" and its implications
"El Americano" is often used for the inhabitants of the United States, although it generates controversy by excluding the rest of the continent. In Latin America, "North American" is often preferred for greater precision, or "Latin American" when speaking of the region. These variants reflect the cultural and political complexity of the different American territories.
