Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Army in Spanish
Ejército · noun · eh-HEHR-see-toh
The Spanish word for army is 'ejército,' a masculine noun referring to the organized military land forces of a country. The broader term 'fuerzas armadas' covers all branches of the military. Ejército carries the accent on the second syllable and is used in both formal and casual contexts.
Ejército is pronounced eh-HEHR-see-toh. The accent mark on the 'e' indicates the stress, and the 'j' produces the guttural Spanish sound similar to a strong English 'h.'
Mi abuelo sirvió en el ejército durante veinte años.
My grandfather served in the army for twenty years.
army in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for army, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| ejército | army | eh-HEHR-see-toh | Default, widely understood |
| fuerzas armadas | army | broader term referring to all armed forces |
How Native Speakers Use Ejército
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Military service
Él se unió al ejército después de terminar la preparatoria.
He joined the army after finishing high school.
Describes enlisting in military service.
Historical reference
El ejército cruzó las montañas durante la guerra de independencia.
The army crossed the mountains during the independence war.
Used in historical or educational discussions.
Figurative use
Necesitamos un ejército de voluntarios para este evento.
We need an army of volunteers for this event.
Ejército can be used figuratively to mean a large group of people.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Ejército
Missing accent
Incorrect: El ejercito está en la frontera.
Correct: El ejército está en la frontera.
Ejército requires a written accent on the first 'e' because it is an esdrújula word (stress on the antepenultimate syllable).
Confusing with ejercicio
Incorrect: Mi hermano está en el ejercicio nacional.
Correct: Mi hermano está en el ejército nacional.
Ejercicio means 'exercise,' not 'army.' Though the words look similar, they have completely different meanings.
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See Ejército used by native speakers
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Common Questions About army in Spanish
- What is the difference between ejército and fuerzas armadas?
- Ejército specifically refers to the army (land forces), while fuerzas armadas is the umbrella term encompassing all military branches including the navy (armada) and air force (fuerza aérea).
- How do you say 'soldier' in Spanish?
- A soldier is called 'soldado' in Spanish, which applies to any enlisted member of the military regardless of rank or branch.
- Is ejército masculine or feminine?
- Ejército is a masculine noun, so it takes masculine articles and adjectives — 'el ejército mexicano' (the Mexican army), never 'la ejército.'