Spanish vocabulary · Intermediate
How to Say Jews in Spanish: Judíos & Related Terms
Judíos · noun (masculine plural) · hoo-DEE-ohs
Jews in Spanish is judíos (masculine plural) or judías (feminine plural). The word also functions as an adjective meaning Jewish: el pueblo judío (the Jewish people). The historical/biblical synonym hebreos (Hebrews) appears in religious texts. The religion is called judaísmo.
hoo-DEE-ohs — three syllables, stress on the second. The j is aspirated like English h, and the accent falls on the í.
La comunidad judía en Buenos Aires es muy grande.
The Jewish community in Buenos Aires is very large.
Jews in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for jews, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| judíos | jews | hoo-DEE-ohs | Default, widely understood |
| judía / judías | jews | feminine singular / plural | |
| hebreos | jews | biblical/historical reference |
How Native Speakers Use Judíos
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Identifying community
Los judíos sefardíes tienen raíces en España.
Sephardic Jews have roots in Spain.
Sefardíes (Sephardic) refers to Jews whose ancestors lived in the Iberian Peninsula before 1492.
Adjective use
Asistimos a una ceremonia judía el viernes.
We attended a Jewish ceremony on Friday.
Judío/judía functions as both noun and adjective in Spanish.
Historical reference
Los hebreos cruzaron el desierto durante cuarenta años.
The Hebrews crossed the desert for forty years.
Hebreos is used in biblical and historical narratives rather than contemporary reference.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Judíos
Capitalizing judío as a nationality
Incorrect: Él es Judío.
Correct: Él es judío.
In Spanish, religious and ethnic group adjectives are not capitalized. Write judío in lowercase, unlike English Jewish.
Confusing judía (Jewish woman) with judía (green bean)
Incorrect: Compré judías en la sinagoga.
Correct: Compré judías en el mercado. (beans) / Conocí a varias judías en la sinagoga. (Jewish women)
Judía means both Jewish woman and green bean (in Spain). Context makes the meaning clear — food contexts mean the bean; community contexts mean the person.
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Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Judíos used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Jews in Spanish
- How do you say Jews in Spanish?
- Jews in Spanish is judíos (masculine/mixed plural) or judías (feminine plural). The singular forms are judío and judía.
- Is judío also an adjective?
- Judío/judía works as both a noun (a Jewish person) and an adjective (Jewish traditions = tradiciones judías). It is not capitalized in Spanish.
- What is the difference between judío and hebreo?
- Judío is the modern, everyday term for Jewish. Hebreo refers to the ancient Hebrews in biblical contexts or to the Hebrew language (el hebreo). In contemporary usage, judío is standard.