gueto
/ˈɡeto/masculine
The English phrase "ghetto" can be translated into Spanish as gueto. Wiktionary also lists morería.
Meaning: area of a city where people of an ethnic group are concentrated (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| gueto | /ˈɡeto/ | masculine |
| morería | /moɾeɾia/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
The word refers to an area of a city where people of an ethnic group are concentrated.
Which one should you use?
While gueto is a general term for a ghetto, the term morería is used in a historical context to refer specifically to the quarters where Muslims (Moors) lived in medieval Spain.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
gueto is a masculine noun and morería is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɡeto/
When do people say it?
The word gueto can be used to refer to a ghetto, particularly in countries with significant Jewish populations.
Did you know?
- The suffix -ería in morería typically denotes a place of business or a workshop in Spanish, suggesting that these quarters were often centers of trade and craft.
- The term morería is closely related to the word moro, which is still used today in Spain as a common, though sometimes controversial, shorthand for people from North Africa.
- Unlike the general term gueto, the word morería is rarely used in Latin America, as it refers to a specific historical phenomenon unique to the Iberian Peninsula.
Examples in context
- Vive en el gueto.She lives in the ghetto.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use gueto in a simple context.Tatoeba #3767619 by IXTLA, translation #2337213 by Hybrid
- Esta área urbana se ha convertido en un barrio marginalThis urban area has become a ghetto.
- Ten cuidado si vas a entrar al barrio bravoBe careful if you're going into the ghetto.
- El antiguo gueto se ha transformado con el tiempoThe old ghetto has transformed over time.
- El gueto era muy pequeño.The ghetto was very small.
- Ellos construyeron un gueto cerca del río.They built a ghetto near the river.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are discussing a history documentary.
- ElenaEl documental explica la vida en el gueto.The documentary explains life in the ghetto.
- JavierParece que las condiciones eran muy difíciles.It seems that the conditions were very difficult.
- ElenaSí, pero la comunidad se apoyaba mutuamente.Yes, but the community supported one another.
- JavierEs increíble cómo sobrevivieron en el gueto.It is incredible how they survived in the ghetto.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ghetto” translations and entries gueto, morería, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
