Spanish Word of the Day: Extranjero
Spanish Word of the Day For Members
If you're reading The Local Spain, the chances are that you're an 'extranjero' or 'extranjera'.
Extranjero or extranjera mean foreigner in Spanish, the former being masculine and the latter feminine.
The word can be a noun (a male foreigner is un extranjero and a female foreigner is una extranjera).
It can also be used as a noun to refer to 'overseas' or 'abroad', always in the masculine form el extranjero, such as Juan se ha ido al extranjero, 'Juan has gone overseas'.
Extranjero/a can also be the adjective for the word 'foreign' (la prensa extranjera is the foreign press, or el turismo extranjero is foreign tourism).
You may also hear Spaniards say de origen extranjero (of foreign origin) or that someone has un acento extranjero (a foreign accent).
Extranjero doesn't have any negative connotations in Spanish, unlike the word guiri which can be derogatory depending on how it's used.
It also applies to all foreigners, unlike guiri which tends to refer to foreigners from northern European countries.
Synonyms of extranjero include foráneo or forastero, which do bear more resemblance to the English word 'foreigner' and 'foreign' but tend to be used far less in Spanish.
In fact, you're only likely to hear forastero in Western movies to refer to someone who's an outsider or stranger.
According to Spain's Royal Academy of Language (RAE), the word extranjero derives from the Old French word estrangier (now étranger) to refer to 'one who is or comes from a country of another sovereignty'.
Another related word is extranjería, a useful term for foreigners in Spain to know as it refers to the foreigners' office in Spain.
There's also extranjerismo, which can refer to a foreign word, phrase or custom, a foreignism.
Then there's the colloquial expression de extranjis, which means 'on the down low' or 'secretly'.
Examples:
Los extranjeros están comprando muchas viviendas en España.
Foreigners are buying a lot of property in Spain.
If you want to find better career opportunities, you have to go abroad.
Tengo que ir a extranjería a tramitar mi tarjeta de residencia.
I have to go to the foreigners' office to process my residency card.
More
#Spanish Word of the Day
See Also
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Local Spain
4 days ago
- Local Spain
Age in Spain launches new service for elderly English speakers
Age in Spain's decision to launch this new initiative is rooted in the charity's extensive experience working directly with older adults. The service responds to the real and growing need for practical, accessible, and compassionate support, particularly for those navigating language barriers, healthcare systems, immigration issues, and local bureaucracy. 'We've listened to the people we serve,' said Steve Burgess, Operations Manager at Age in Spain. 'The Support and Advocacy Service is our direct response to the everyday struggles older English speakers face. It's about making sure no one is left to deal with these challenges alone.' What Age in Spain's Support and Advocacy Service offers: One-to-One Help: Trained volunteers will support clients with practical tasks—making calls, filling out forms, setting appointments, and connecting with local service providers. Expert Support: With specialists like a retired physician already volunteering, the service can assist with more complex issues, including healthcare and legal processes. Community Connections: Advocates will work to build local partnerships, strengthen referral networks, and raise awareness through outreach and representation at community events. Collective Advocacy: In addition to individual support, the team will identify widespread challenges and work with local authorities, consulates, and other organisations to promote long-term improvements. Where possible the service will operate in person, aiming to reach people in high-density English-speaking areas and in more isolated communities across Spain, provide virtual assistance or work in partnership with other providers. Interested in joining the initiative? Age in Spain are actively inviting volunteers, professionals, and community organisations to become part of this new and vital initiative. Whether you are an individual looking to make a difference in someone's life, a specialist with skills to offer, or an organisation open to collaboration—your participation can help shape the future of support for older English speakers in Spain.
Local Spain
4 days ago
- Local Spain
Spain grants citizenship via residency to 220,000+ foreigners in one year
Spain granted nationality through residency to a total of 221,805 foreigners in 2024. This new figure is 8.9 percent lower than the 243,481 granted in 2023, the highest figure in the entire historical series since 2009. But 2024's annual total is still the third highest over the past 15 years. The data provided by Spain's Immigration Observatory confirms an upward trend of the number of people successfully applying for Spanish nationality. Much of this is down to automation - in other words using bots - when reviewing applications, an effective way to alleviate the backlog and streamline the citizenship paperwork. The highest number of Spanish nationalities granted since records began was in 2013 when Spain gave total of 261,295 people citizenship. The majority of people granted citizenship are of Ibero-American origin with Venezuelans taking the top spot with 33,021 citizenships granted. This is followed by Moroccans with 29,033. In third place are Colombians with 27,946 citizenships granted, then Hondurans with 13,915, Peruvians with 10,799, Ecuadorians with 9,925 and Argentinians with 9,165. The average age of foreign nationals who obtained nationality based on residency in 2024 was 34, and 57 percent were women. Almost 70 percent of those with successful applications were between the ages of 18 and 49. The vast majority of people – a total of 61 percent have been granted nationality after two years of legal residence in Spain, as is the case with those from Latin American countries. These citizens of Ibero-American countries also have the option of keeping their original passports as dual nationality is allowed for them. In addition to acquisition through residency, Spanish nationality can also be acquired by origin and by naturalisation. Twenty-four percent acquired citizenship after just one year because they were born in Spain (32,572), married a Spaniard (20,185), or they are the children or grandchildren of a person with Spanish nationality (637). A total of 13 percent achieved it after ten years of legal residency in Spain – 99 percent of them Moroccans, while only 17 people were granted residency through asylum, which requires a period of five years. To be granted Spanish nationality through residency, applicants need to have good civic conduct, a sufficient degree of integration into Spanish society, and have resided in Spain legally and continuously for a period of time immediately prior to the application. For those born in Spain and for those who have married a Spaniard it's one year; for those with previous nationality from an Ibero-American country Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and Sephardic Jews it's two years; for those those who have obtained refugee status it's 5 years; and for the rest it's 10 years. It's worth noting that Spain also rejected a record number of citizenship applications in 2024, a total of 20,099. This is more than double the number of rejections that were issued in 2023, which was a total of 7,399 people. Experts believe this could be down to the fact that more applications which were stuck in limbo are now being processed, the number of applicants keep increasing and technological advancements means the process is now quicker, so more people can be rejected quicker too if they don't meet the requirements. Another reason is that Spain extended the deadline to apply for citizenship through the Grandchildren's Law (Ley de Nietos in Spanish) until the end of 2025, which was initially scheduled to be October 2024.
Local Spain
23-05-2025
- Local Spain
How disposing of olive oil in the wrong way in Spain can lead to a huge fine
Olive oil is a way of life in Spain but a surprising amount of it ends up down the sink. This is usually done after cooking, when instead of being safely or properly deposited it goes down the sink before doing the washing up. Spain generates around 350 million litres of used cooking oil per year, which works out to roughly 10 litres per person. While the hotel and catering industry recycles almost three quarters of this waste, households recycle barely 5 percent of their oil. What few in Spain realise is that disposing of oil down the sink can not only block up your pipes, it can land you in some serious trouble and even lead to fines of up to €100,000 in more serious cases. This is because pouring oil down the drain not only damages the environment, but is regulated by Spanish law as a serious offence in Law 7/2022, which deals with waste and contaminated soils as part of the 'circular economy'. These rules, which were applied to reinforce commitments to recycling and sustainability, legally consider the dumping of waste oil as improper waste management. It is not considered a hazardous waste, but it is highly polluting. The minimum fines for pouring waste oil down the sink start at €2,001, but can go up to €100,000 in serious cases. The price varies according to the amount poured away, whether there is a repeat offence or if the environmental damage is significant. Although many in Spain are unaware of it (and perhaps even do it) it can be reported if detected, especially in neighbourhood communities or on commercial premises. On top of the legal risk, pouring oil down the sink also presents an infrastructural problem that affects everyone. Oil blocks pipes, solidifies and forms 'grease balls ' that clog urban sewage networks. According to data cited by Spanish news website El Confidencial, the cost of clearing these blockages exceeds €90 million each year around Europe. Wastewater treatment plants, for their part, also have to redouble their efforts (and budgets) to treat this waste when it reaches the sewage system. A single litre of used oil can pollute up to 1,000 litres of water, according to the Aquae Foundation. When this waste reaches rivers or the sea, it prevents water oxygenation and puts aquatic life at risk. So what do I do with my old olive oil? Let it cool and store it in a tightly closed bottle or container and avoid mixing it with water or food leftovers. When enough oil has accumulated, the leftovers should be taken to a pickup point such as the orange containers that many local councils have set up for public collection.
