Spanish Conversation · Level 122
60 words
Spanish word
esclavo
Pronunciation
IPA/esˈklaβo/
Meaning
- masculine nounslave
Example
No seas esclavo de la moda.
Don't be a slave to fashion.
More examples
No quiero ser esclavo de la opinión de los demás.
I don't want to be a slave to others' opinions.
Core concept
Person deprived of personal freedom by dependence or obligation.
Common phrases
ser esclavo de la opinión ajena
be a slave to others' opinions
ser esclavo del trabajo
be a slave to one's work
Similar words
sirviente: Domestic worker employed to care for a home or its inhabitants.
prisionero: Person held captive or detained, lacking liberty.
dependiente: Person dependent on others for livelihood or daily needs.
subordinado: Workplace subordinate who follows supervisors' instructions.
Definition in Spanish
Persona que, por dependencia u obligación, no puede ejercer su propia voluntad.
Word origin
It is derived from medieval Latin sclavus and ultimately from a Slavic ethnonym, reflecting medieval practices of taking Slavs as captives.
Usage tips
- Used figuratively in constructions like 'ser esclavo de + noun' to mean being dominated by a habit, preference, or obligation rather than literally enslaved.
Opposites
- libertadfreedomnoun
Related words
- esclavizanteenslavingadjective
- esclavizarenslaveverb