Spanish word

etnia

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈetnja/

Meaning

  • feminine nounethnic group

Example

En esta ciudad conviven varias etnias.

Several ethnic groups coexist in this city.

Illustration for etnia (ethnic group)

More examples

Muchas personas sienten orgullo por pertenecer a su etnia.

Many people feel proud to belong to their ethnic group.

Core concept

Human community defined by shared culture, language, and ancestry.

Common phrases

  • pertenecer a la etnia

    belong to their ethnic group

  • ser miembro de la etnia

    be a member of their ethnic group

  • etnia indígena

    indigenous ethnic group

Similar words

grupo étnico: Community united by common culture, language, or customs, common in everyday speech.
minoría: Group that constitutes a small share of the population.
tribu: Small kin-based community sharing ancestry, traditions, and internal social ties.

Definition in Spanish

Colectividad humana definida por rasgos culturales, lingüísticos o de ascendencia compartida, sin depender de fronteras políticas.

Word origin

From Greek ethnos meaning 'people, nation', through Latin and Romance languages into Spanish, etnia names a human collectivity recognized by common cultural, linguistic, or ancestral traits.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Spanish etnia is more technical than origen or procedencia, and speakers often ask about region or family origin instead of directly about someone's etnia.

Other meanings

  • ethnicitynoun

Related words

  • étnicoethnicadjective
  • etnologíaethnologynoun
  • etnografíaethnographynoun

Word lists with this word