esclavo
/esˈklabo/masculine
The Spanish word for slave is esclavo. Wiktionary also lists esclava.
Meaning: person owned by another (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| esclavo | /esˈklabo/ | masculine |
| esclava | /esˈklaba/ | feminine |
The term refers to a person who is owned by another.
Which one should you use?
Use the masculine form esclavo when referring to a male slave or a mixed group of slaves. Use the feminine form esclava when referring specifically to a female slave.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine plural form of esclavo is esclavos. The feminine plural form of esclava is esclavas.
How do you pronounce it?
/esˈklabo/
Did you know?
- The word esclavo traces its roots back to the people of the Slav group. It stems from a Latin term for a Slav, reflecting the historical fate of many Slavic people during the Middle Ages.
- In certain historical Spanish literary contexts, the word esclavo was used in religious poetry to describe a devotee who is completely surrendered to the will of God.
- While esclavo is the standard term, historical documents from Spain may use cautivo to describe people captured in war, creating a legal distinction between a prisoner and a slave.
Examples in context
- No soy esclavo de Tomás.I'm not Tom's slave.This sentence shows how to deny being a slave to a specific person using esclavo.Tatoeba #5052830 by don_ramon, translation #3723559 by CM
- El esclavo intentó huir.The slave tried to escape.This sentence describes an attempt by a slave to escape using esclavo.Tatoeba #13461108 by Seael, translation #1820244 by Spamster
- Yo no soy esclavo de nadie.I'm nobody's slave.This sentence expresses the sentiment of being nobody's slave using esclavo.Tatoeba #9226660 by arh, translation #9222661 by CK
- No uses términos ofensivos como "esclavo" para describir a una persona.Do not use offensive terms like "esclavo" to describe a person.
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A museum guide explains a historical exhibit to visitors.
- DanielEse esclavo era muy fuerte.That slave was very strong.
- MaríaEs una historia muy triste, Daniel.It is a very sad story, Daniel.
- DanielSí, el esclavo vivía en la costa.Yes, the slave lived on the coast.
- MaríaEntiendo la situación ahora.I understand the situation now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “slave” translations and entries esclavo, esclava, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries esclavo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
