clase social
/klase soθjal/from spelling rulesfeminine
The English phrase social class is translated into Spanish as clase social. If unsure, use clase social. Wiktionary also lists estrato social.
Meaning: class of people (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| clase social | /klase soθjal/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /klase sosjal/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| estrato social | /estɾato soθjal/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /estɾato sosjal/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
Both clase social and estrato social are used to refer to a class of people within a society.
Which one should you use?
While clase social is the standard term, estrato social is a more formal or sociological term often used in academic or technical contexts to refer to a social stratum.
How does it change in a sentence?
clase social is a feminine phrase, meaning it is preceded by the feminine article la (la clase social). To make it plural, both the noun and the adjective must be pluralized to clases sociales. In contrast, estrato social is a masculine phrase, preceded by the masculine article el (el estrato social). The plural form of estrato social is estratos sociales.
Did you know?
- While 'social class' is often translated as clase social, in many Latin American countries, government officials use the term estratos to categorize households by income for the purpose of distributing social subsidies. This turns a sociological term into a practical administrative tool for deciding who receives aid.
- The word clase comes from the Latin 'classis', which originally referred to a fleet of ships or a division of the Roman army.
- In certain Spanish-speaking academic circles, using clase social can sometimes carry a more political or confrontational connotation of 'class struggle' than the more neutral, detached term estrato social.
Examples in context
- Desprecia a la gente de clase social más baja.He despises people of a lower social class.This sentence demonstrates the use of clase social when discussing different levels of society.Tatoeba #987302 by hayastan, translation #298999 by CM
- La clase social está determinada por factores económicos y educativos.Social class is determined by economic and educational factors.
- En nuestra sociedad, existen diferentes estratos sociales.In our society, there are different social strata.
- No te preocupes, mi nivel socioeconómico no define quién soy.Don't worry, my socioeconomic level doesn't define who I am.
- La condición social no debe limitar las oportunidades de una persona.Social class should not limit a person's opportunities.
- La clase social influye en las oportunidades.Social class influences opportunities.
- Él no tiene prejuicios sobre la clase social.He has no prejudices about social class.
Example conversation
Daniel and María are discussing a sociology book.
- DanielEste libro analiza la clase social en España.This book analyzes social class in Spain.
- MaríaEs un tema muy complejo, Daniel.It is a very complex topic, Daniel.
- DanielSí, pero es importante entenderlo.Yes, but it is important to understand it.
- MaríaTienes razón, María está de acuerdo.You are right, María agrees.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “social class” translations and entries clase social, 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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries clase, estrato, social, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
