Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Military in Spanish: Militar
Militar · adjective / noun · mee-lee-TAHR
Military in Spanish is militar. It works as an adjective (servicio militar = military service) and as a noun (un militar = a military member). The armed forces collectively are las fuerzas armadas, and the army specifically is el ejército.
mee-lee-TAHR — three syllables with stress on the final syllable. The t is dental, softer than in English.
Mi hermano es militar desde hace diez años.
My brother has been in the military for ten years.
Military in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for military, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| militar | military | mee-lee-TAHR | Default, widely understood |
| ejército | military | the army (specific branch) | |
| fuerzas armadas | military | armed forces (collective) |
How Native Speakers Use Militar
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
As an adjective
La base militar está a las afueras de la ciudad.
The military base is on the outskirts of the city.
As an adjective, militar always follows the noun: base militar, servicio militar, hospital militar.
As a noun (person)
Los militares desfilaron el día de la independencia.
The military members marched on Independence Day.
Un militar / una militar refers to a person serving in the armed forces.
Armed forces collectively
Las fuerzas armadas protegen la frontera del país.
The armed forces protect the country's border.
Fuerzas armadas encompasses all branches: army, navy, and air force.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Militar
Placing militar before the noun
Incorrect: Es una militar base importante.
Correct: Es una base militar importante.
In Spanish, militar as an adjective follows the noun. Placing it before sounds like an English calque.
Using militario instead of militar
Incorrect: Tiene un uniforme militario.
Correct: Tiene un uniforme militar.
The word is militar (not militario). Unlike English which adds -ary, Spanish uses -ar.
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Common Questions About Military in Spanish
- How do you say military in Spanish?
- Military in Spanish is militar. It functions as both an adjective and a noun: servicio militar (military service) and un militar (a service member).
- What is the difference between militar and ejército?
- Militar is the adjective/general term. Ejército specifically means army. Las fuerzas armadas (armed forces) covers all branches.
- Is militar masculine or feminine?
- As a noun, it can be either: un militar (male) or una militar (female). The form does not change — only the article indicates gender.