nosotros
/noˈsotɾos/masculine, plural
The Spanish word for 'we' is nosotros or nosotras.
Meaning: generic we (the speaker and at least one other person, regardless of whether it's the person being addressed) (pron)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| nosotros | /noˈsotɾos/ | masculine, plural |
| nosotras | /noˈsotɾas/ | feminine, plural |
Both forms are used to refer to a group that includes the speaker and at least one other person. In many Spanish-speaking contexts, the subject pronoun nosotros or nosotras is often omitted because the verb conjugation alone is sufficient to indicate 'we'.
Which one should you use?
nosotros is the masculine form, used if the group consists of only males or a mix of males and females. nosotras is the feminine form, used only if the group consists entirely of females.
How does it change in a sentence?
The choice of pronoun depends on the gender composition of the group: use nosotros for all-male or mixed groups and nosotras for all-female groups.
How do you pronounce it?
/noˈsotɾos/
Did you know?
- Spanish has a 'plural of modesty' where an author or speaker uses nosotros instead of 'I' to avoid sounding arrogant.
- The word nosotros literally breaks down into 'us' and 'others', essentially meaning 'us and others'.
- In highly formal settings, the pronoun nosotros can be used as a 'plural of majesty' by monarchs to refer to their sovereign power.
Examples in context
- Nosotros no vimos nada.We didn't see anything.This sentence shows how to use nosotros.Tatoeba #1603618 by marcelostockle, translation #1687550 by aka_aj
- Nosotros no lo hicimos.We didn't do it.Tatoeba #2878264 by teskmon, translation #2273827 by CK
- Nosotros no hicimos eso.We didn't do that.Tatoeba #1841753 by marcelostockle, translation #4887833 by CK
- Nosotros queremos aprender español.We want to learn Spanish.
- Nosotras somos amigas.We are friends.
- Nosotros vamos al cine.We are going to the movies.
- Nos vemos mañana.We'll see each other tomorrow.
- Nosotros somos estudiantes.We are students.
- 582 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are planning a dinner together.
- Elena¿Qué queremos comer hoy?What do we want to eat today?
- AlejandroNosotros podemos cocinar pasta.We can cook pasta.
- ElenaMe parece una buena idea.That sounds like a good idea.
- AlejandroEntonces vamos al supermercado.Then let's go to the supermarket.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “we” translations and entries nosotros, nosotras, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nosotras, nosotros, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
