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B1 noun 8 min read

ejército

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips ejército in 30 Seconds

Explanation ejército in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should know that 'ejército' means 'army'. It is a group of soldiers. You might see it in simple sentences about countries. It is a masculine word: 'el ejército'. Don't confuse it with 'ejercicio' (exercise). You use it when talking about people who protect a country with uniforms and weapons. For example, 'El ejército es grande'. It is one of those basic nouns that appear when talking about national symbols or history. You don't need to know the complex details of military ranks yet, just that it's a large group of people who fight for their country.

At the A2 level, you can start using 'ejército' in more descriptive sentences. You might talk about what the army does, like 'El ejército ayuda a la gente' (The army helps the people). You should be aware that it is a collective noun, so even though it represents many people, it is singular. You will encounter it in stories about heroes or in basic news reports. It's also useful to know that 'ejército' is usually for land forces. You can start to distinguish between 'un soldado' (one person) and 'el ejército' (the whole group).

At the B1 level, you are expected to use 'ejército' in more complex contexts, such as discussing history, politics, or social issues. You should be able to use it with various verbs like 'servir en el ejército' (to serve in the army) or 'unirse al ejército' (to join the army). You should also understand its metaphorical use, such as an 'ejército de voluntarios'. At this level, you should be comfortable with the word's spelling and accentuation, and you should never confuse it with 'ejercicio'. You might also start to see it in the context of 'servicio militar' (military service), which is a common topic of conversation in many Spanish-speaking countries.

At the B2 level, you should understand the nuances of 'ejército' within the broader category of 'Las Fuerzas Armadas'. You can discuss the role of the army in society, its historical impact on the development of nations, and the ethical implications of military actions. You should be able to use technical terms related to the army, such as 'despliegue' (deployment), 'maniobras' (maneuvers), and 'alto mando' (high command). Your use of the word should be precise, distinguishing it from 'armada' (navy) or 'milicia' (militia) based on the specific branch or type of force being discussed.

At the C1 level, you should be able to use 'ejército' in academic, professional, and literary contexts. You can analyze the socio-political power of the army in different historical periods or countries. You should understand idiomatic expressions and the subtle connotations the word might have in different regions (e.g., its relationship with past dictatorships in some Latin American countries). Your vocabulary should include synonyms like 'hueste' for literary effect or 'tropa' for specific operational contexts. You can write detailed essays or give presentations on topics like 'el papel del ejército en la democracia'.

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'ejército'. You can use it with absolute precision in any context, from high-level strategic military analysis to complex metaphorical literature. You understand the etymological roots from Latin 'exercitus' and how that history informs the word's current meaning. You can navigate the most subtle distinctions between 'ejército de ocupación', 'ejército de liberación', and 'ejército profesional'. You are aware of how the word's meaning can shift slightly across the Hispanic world and can adapt your usage to the most formal or specialized registers of the Spanish language.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

ejército in 30 Seconds

Ejército means army and refers to organized land-based military forces.
It is a masculine singular noun (el ejército) and is a collective term.
Commonly confused with 'ejercicio' (exercise), but they have very different meanings.
Used in contexts of history, national defense, news, and sometimes figuratively for large groups.

The Spanish word ejército refers to an organized military force, primarily one trained for fighting on land. It is a masculine noun, preceded by the article 'el' (el ejército). While in a broad sense it can describe any large, organized group of people working toward a common goal, its primary and most frequent application is in the context of national defense and military history. Understanding this word is crucial for discussing history, politics, and current events in Spanish-speaking countries. The term encompasses everything from the rank-and-file soldiers to the high-ranking generals and the infrastructure that supports them. In many Spanish-speaking nations, the army has played a significant historical role, sometimes extending beyond defense into social and political spheres, which adds layers of cultural weight to the word. When you hear 'ejército', you should visualize uniforms, strategy, discipline, and the defense of a nation's sovereignty. It is not just a collection of individuals, but a highly structured institution with a clear hierarchy and a specific mission. The word is derived from the Latin 'exercitus', which originally meant 'exercise' or 'training', highlighting the fact that a true army is defined by its rigorous preparation and discipline rather than just its numbers.

Military Branch: Specifically refers to the land-based forces, distinct from the 'armada' (navy) or the 'fuerza aérea' (air force).
Metaphorical Use: Used to describe a large, disciplined group, such as 'un ejército de voluntarios' (an army of volunteers).
Historical Context: Often used when discussing the 'Ejército Libertador' in Latin American independence movements led by figures like Simón Bolívar.

El ejército de tierra realizó maniobras cerca de la frontera para asegurar la paz en la región.

Durante la emergencia nacional, el ejército ayudó a distribuir suministros médicos a las zonas más remotas.

Muchos jóvenes deciden unirse al ejército para obtener formación técnica y servir a su patria.

El ejército romano es conocido por sus tácticas avanzadas y su disciplina inquebrantable.

Se necesita un ejército de programadores para terminar este proyecto de software en menos de un mes.

Using 'ejército' correctly involves understanding its grammatical gender and its role as a collective noun. As a masculine noun, it always takes masculine adjectives and articles: 'el ejército poderoso', 'los ejércitos modernos'. Even though it represents many people, 'ejército' is singular. If you want to say 'The army is coming', you say 'El ejército viene', not 'vienen'. This is a common point of confusion for English speakers who might think of the group as a plural entity. Furthermore, when discussing the military as a whole, it's common to use the plural 'las fuerzas armadas' to include the navy and air force, but 'el ejército' specifically targets the land forces. You will often see it paired with verbs of movement, organization, and conflict. For instance, an army can 'avanzar' (advance), 'retirarse' (retreat), 'desplegarse' (deploy), or 'rendirse' (surrender). It can also be the subject of administrative actions: 'el gobierno financia al ejército' or 'el ejército recluta nuevos miembros'. In formal writing, particularly in legal or historical texts, the word is often capitalized when referring to a specific national institution, such as 'el Ejército Mexicano'.

Agreement: Always singular unless referring to multiple different armies. 'El ejército está preparado' (The army is prepared).
Prepositions: Commonly used with 'en' (in the army) or 'a' (to the army). 'Él sirve en el ejército'.
Verbal Pairings: Verbs like 'comandar', 'dirigir', and 'liderar' are used to describe leadership over the army.

El comandante dio la orden y el ejército comenzó su marcha al amanecer.

Es difícil derrotar a un ejército que lucha por su propio territorio y libertad.

El ejército profesional requiere años de entrenamiento y una gran inversión económica.

In the Spanish-speaking world, you will encounter the word 'ejército' in several key environments. The first is in the news and media. Reports on national security, international conflicts, or natural disaster relief efforts frequently mention the army's involvement. In many Latin American countries, the army is the primary responder to earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes, so you might hear 'el ejército está ayudando a los damnificados' (the army is helping the victims). The second major context is historical education. Every Spanish-speaking student learns about the 'ejércitos de liberación' that fought for independence from Spain in the 19th century. Figures like José de San Martín and Simón Bolívar are inextricably linked to the 'ejército'. Thirdly, you'll hear it in political discourse. Debates over military spending, mandatory service (el servicio militar), or the role of the military in domestic policy are common. Beyond these, the word appears in pop culture—movies, books, and video games often feature 'el ejército' as a central element of the plot. Even in daily conversation, someone might use it figuratively to describe a large group of people, like an 'ejército de hormigas' (an army of ants) in their garden. Understanding the context helps you distinguish between its literal military sense and its broader metaphorical applications.

News Media: Frequent mentions during national holidays, parades (desfiles militares), or geopolitical tensions.
History Books: Used to detail the strategies and battles of past centuries.
Everyday Idioms: Used to exaggerate the size of a group or the difficulty of a task.

En las noticias de la noche, informaron que el ejército ha sido desplegado para proteger las fronteras.

Mi abuelo siempre cuenta historias de cuando servía en el ejército hace cincuenta años.

The most frequent mistake English speakers make with 'ejército' is confusing it with the word 'ejercicio' (exercise). Because they look and sound somewhat similar, students often say 'necesito hacer ejército' when they mean they need to work out. Remember: 'ejército' is for soldiers, 'ejercicio' is for the gym! Another common error involves the grammatical gender. Since 'ejército' ends in 'o', it is masculine, but learners sometimes mistakenly use 'la' because they associate military forces with 'la armada' or 'la milicia'. Always use 'el ejército'. Additionally, learners often struggle with the pluralization of the concept. In English, we might say 'the army are' (in British English) or 'the army is'. In Spanish, you must always use the singular verb form: 'el ejército es', never 'el ejército son'. Lastly, be careful with the word 'militar'. While 'militar' can be a noun (a military person), it is often an adjective. You shouldn't say 'él es un ejército' to mean 'he is a soldier'; you should say 'él está en el ejército' or 'él es un soldado' or 'él es un militar'. Misusing these terms can lead to confusion about whether you are talking about an individual or the entire institution.

Ejército vs. Ejercicio: Ejército = Army. Ejercicio = Exercise. Do not swap them!
Individual vs. Group: Use 'soldado' for one person, 'ejército' for the whole organization.
Gender Agreement: It is 'el ejército' (masculine). Using 'la' is a common but incorrect guess.

Incorrecto: Mañana voy al parque a hacer ejército con mis amigos.

Correcto: Mañana voy al parque a hacer ejercicio.

While 'ejército' is the most common word for a national army, Spanish offers several synonyms and related terms depending on the nuance you want to convey. 'Las Fuerzas Armadas' is the umbrella term that includes the army, navy, and air force. If you are talking specifically about the people in the army, you might use 'las tropas' (the troops) or 'la soldadesca' (often used pejoratively or for a large, unruly group of soldiers). For a smaller, specialized group, 'batallón' (battalion) or 'regimiento' (regiment) are more precise. In historical or literary contexts, you might see 'hueste', an archaic term for an army or a following of armed men. 'Milicia' refers to a militia—often a group of citizens who are not professional soldiers but are called to duty. Another term, 'legión', evokes the Roman era but is still used in names of specific units, like the 'Legión Española'. Understanding these distinctions allows for more precise communication. For example, 'el ejército' is an institution, while 'la tropa' refers more to the physical presence of soldiers on the ground. Choosing the right word depends on whether you are discussing policy, history, or a specific military operation.

Fuerzas Armadas: The total military power of a country, including all branches.
Tropas: Refers to the soldiers themselves in active service or on a mission.
Milicia: A force composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers.

El ejército es la rama terrestre de las Fuerzas Armadas.

Las tropas avanzaron durante la noche sin ser detectadas por el enemigo.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

The root 'exercere' originally meant 'to keep busy' or 'to drive out of an enclosure', which eventually evolved into the idea of training or exercising.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /eˈxeɾθito/

US /eˈxeɾsito/

The stress is on the first 'e' because of the written accent (tilde). It is a 'palabra esdrújula'.

Rhymes With

mérito pretérito emérito término (slant) crédito (slant) espíritu (slant) débito (slant) perito (slant)

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'j' like an English 'j' (as in 'judge').
Missing the stress on the first syllable.
Confusing it with 'ejercicio' and mispronouncing the ending.
Pronouncing the 'r' too softly; it should be a single tap.
Ignoring the 'i' in the third syllable.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in context due to its distinct spelling.

Writing 4/5

The accent on the 'é' and the 'j' vs 'g' spelling can be tricky.

Speaking 3/5

The 'j' sound and the 'esdrújula' stress require practice.

Listening 2/5

Usually clear, but can be confused with 'ejercicio' if spoken fast.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

soldado guerra país bandera armas

Learn Next

armada fuerza aérea estrategia jerarquía reclutamiento

Advanced

beligerante conflagración estratagema cuartelazo insurrección

Grammar to Know

Collective Nouns

El ejército (singular) avanza (singular).

Accentuation (Esdrújulas)

E-jér-ci-to always has a tilde.

Gender of Nouns ending in -o

El ejército is masculine.

Prepositions with Institutions

Trabajar EN el ejército.

Adjective Agreement

El ejército victorioso.

Examples by Level

El ejército es muy grande.

The army is very big.

Ejército is a masculine singular noun.

Mi hermano está en el ejército.

My brother is in the army.

Use 'en el' to indicate being part of the institution.

El ejército lleva uniformes verdes.

The army wears green uniforms.

Llevar here means 'to wear'.

Vemos el ejército en el desfile.

We see the army in the parade.

Desfile means parade.

El ejército protege el país.

The army protects the country.

Protege is the third person singular of proteger.

Hay muchos soldados en el ejército.

There are many soldiers in the army.

Soldados is the plural for individuals in the group.

El ejército tiene camiones fuertes.

The army has strong trucks.

Camiones means trucks.

El ejército ayuda en la ciudad.

The army helps in the city.

Ayuda is singular because ejército is singular.

El ejército llegó ayer por la mañana.

The army arrived yesterday morning.

Llegó is the past tense (preterite) form.

Ellos quieren servir en el ejército nacional.

They want to serve in the national army.

Servir is the infinitive 'to serve'.

El ejército construyó un puente nuevo.

The army built a new bridge.

Construyó is the past tense of construir.

No es fácil entrar en el ejército.

It is not easy to enter the army.

Entrar en is the standard phrasal verb for joining.

El ejército de este país es profesional.

The army of this country is professional.

Profesional describes the nature of the force.

El ejército busca nuevos voluntarios.

The army is looking for new volunteers.

Busca is 'looks for' or 'is looking for'.

Vimos un avión del ejército en el cielo.

We saw an army plane in the sky.

Del is the contraction of 'de + el'.

El ejército entrena todos los días.

The army trains every day.

Entrena is the verb 'to train'.

El ejército de salvación ayuda a los pobres.

The Salvation Army helps the poor.

This is a specific proper name for the charitable organization.

El general lidera el ejército con sabiduría.

The general leads the army with wisdom.

Lidera means 'leads'.

El ejército se retiró después de la batalla.

The army retreated after the battle.

Retirarse is a reflexive verb for retreating.

Es obligatorio unirse al ejército en algunos países.

It is mandatory to join the army in some countries.

Obligatorio means mandatory.

El ejército realizó maniobras en el desierto.

The army performed maneuvers in the desert.

Maniobras refers to military exercises.

Hubo un gran desfile del ejército en la capital.

There was a large army parade in the capital.

Hubo is the past tense of 'hay'.

El ejército ha modernizado su equipo recientemente.

The army has modernized its equipment recently.

Present perfect tense 'ha modernizado'.

Un ejército de hormigas invadió mi cocina.

An army of ants invaded my kitchen.

A common metaphorical use of the word.

El ejército garantizó la seguridad durante las elecciones.

The army guaranteed security during the elections.

Garantizó is the preterite of garantizar.

La intervención del ejército fue necesaria para evitar el caos.

The army's intervention was necessary to avoid chaos.

Intervención is the noun for the act of intervening.

El ejército de tierra colabora con la armada y la aviación.

The land army collaborates with the navy and the air force.

Ejército de tierra specifically means land forces.

Las tácticas del ejército enemigo eran impredecibles.

The enemy army's tactics were unpredictable.

Impredecible means unpredictable.

El ejército reclutó a miles de jóvenes el año pasado.

The army recruited thousands of young people last year.

Reclutó is the past tense of reclutar.

Muchos cuestionan el presupuesto destinado al ejército.

Many question the budget allocated to the army.

Presupuesto means budget.

El ejército mantiene la paz en las zonas en conflicto.

The army maintains peace in conflict zones.

Mantiene is the verb 'to maintain'.

El mando del ejército emitió un comunicado oficial.

The army command issued an official statement.

Mando refers to the leadership or command.

El ejército actuó como un pilar de estabilidad institucional.

The army acted as a pillar of institutional stability.

Pilar refers to a figurative support or foundation.

La desmovilización del ejército fue un proceso largo y complejo.

The demobilization of the army was a long and complex process.

Desmovilización is the process of disbanding forces.

El ejército se vio involucrado en una controversia política.

The army became involved in a political controversy.

Involucrado means involved.

La logística del ejército es fundamental para el éxito de la misión.

The army's logistics are fundamental to the mission's success.

Logística refers to the organization of supplies.

El ejército libertador cruzó los Andes en una hazaña histórica.

The liberating army crossed the Andes in a historical feat.

Hazaña means a great feat or deed.

El ejército profesional ha sustituido al servicio militar obligatorio.

The professional army has replaced mandatory military service.

Sustituido is the past participle of sustituir.

El ejército debe subordinarse siempre al poder civil.

The army must always be subordinate to civil power.

Subordinarse means to be subordinate to.

Se analizó la influencia del ejército en la política del siglo XX.

The influence of the army on 20th-century politics was analyzed.

Influencia is the noun for influence.

La hegemonía del ejército en la región ha disminuido paulatinamente.

The army's hegemony in the region has gradually diminished.

Hegemonía refers to dominance or leadership.

El ejército esgrimió razones de seguridad nacional para su acción.

The army put forward reasons of national security for its action.

Esgrimir means to put forward or use as an argument.

La dicotomía entre el ejército y la sociedad civil es un tema recurrente.

The dichotomy between the army and civil society is a recurring theme.

Dicotomía refers to a division into two parts.

El ejército se erigió como el garante de la soberanía nacional.

The army established itself as the guarantor of national sovereignty.

Erigirse como means to set oneself up as.

La obsolescencia del armamento del ejército preocupa al alto mando.

The obsolescence of the army's weaponry concerns the high command.

Obsolescencia means the state of being outdated.

El ejército articuló una respuesta rápida ante la insurgencia.

The army articulated a rapid response to the insurgency.

Articular here means to organize or formulate.

La profesionalización del ejército ha transformado su identidad corporativa.

The professionalization of the army has transformed its corporate identity.

Identidad corporativa refers to the institutional identity.

El ejército, otrora todopoderoso, ahora se limita a tareas defensivas.

The army, once all-powerful, is now limited to defensive tasks.

Otrora is a literary term meaning 'once' or 'formerly'.

Common Collocations

ejército de tierra

entrar en el ejército

servir en el ejército

alto mando del ejército

ejército profesional

ejército de salvación

unirse al ejército

desertar del ejército

ejército aliado

ejército derrotado

Common Phrases

Estar en el ejército

— To be currently serving as a soldier.

Mi primo está en el ejército ahora mismo.

Hacer el ejército

— To do mandatory military service (common in some countries).

Tuvo que hacer el ejército en los años ochenta.

Llamar al ejército

— To request military intervention in a crisis.

El alcalde tuvo que llamar al ejército por las inundaciones.

Un ejército de...

— A very large number of something.

Había un ejército de moscas en la cocina.

Mando del ejército

— The leadership or control of the military.

El mando del ejército cambió ayer.

Baja del ejército

— Leaving the military, either voluntarily or not.

Pidió la baja del ejército por motivos de salud.

Carrera en el ejército

— A professional life spent in the military.

Ha hecho una larga carrera en el ejército.

Base del ejército

— A military installation or camp.

La base del ejército está lejos de la ciudad.

Uniforme del ejército

— The official clothing worn by soldiers.

El uniforme del ejército es muy resistente.

Historia del ejército

— The past events related to a military force.

Estamos estudiando la historia del ejército español.

Often Confused With

ejército vs ejercicio

Means 'exercise' (physical or mental). Very common mistake.

ejército vs ejecución

Means 'execution' (carrying out a task or a death sentence).

ejército vs ejemplar

Means 'exemplary' or 'a copy' (of a book).

Idioms & Expressions

"Parecer un ejército"

— To look like a very large or organized group.

Tus amigos parecen un ejército entrando en la casa.

informal

"Ni con un ejército"

— Used to emphasize that something is impossible to achieve.

No lo convencerás ni con un ejército.

colloquial

"Ejército de reserva"

— In Marxist theory, the unemployed population.

Hablamos del ejército de reserva en clase de economía.

academic

"Ser un ejército de un solo hombre"

— To do everything by oneself effectively.

Ella es un ejército de una sola mujer en esa oficina.

informal

"A paso de ejército"

— To move with great discipline and speed.

Caminan a paso de ejército para llegar a tiempo.

literary

"Ejército de sombras"

— Refers to a resistance movement or secret force.

La resistencia era un ejército de sombras.

literary

"Luchar contra un ejército"

— To face overwhelming odds.

Siento que estoy luchando contra un ejército de problemas.

metaphorical

"Como un ejército en marcha"

— In a relentless or unstoppable manner.

El progreso avanza como un ejército en marcha.

literary

"Movilizar un ejército"

— To put a large amount of resources into action.

Movilizaron un ejército de abogados para el juicio.

metaphorical

"Ejército de ocupación"

— A force controlling a foreign territory.

El ejército de ocupación impuso un toque de queda.

formal

Easily Confused

ejército vs ejercicio

Similar spelling and sound.

Ejército is a military force; ejercicio is physical or mental practice.

Hago ejercicio cada mañana, pero no estoy en el ejército.

ejército vs armada

Both are military forces.

Ejército is land-based; armada is sea-based (Navy).

El ejército lucha en tierra y la armada en el mar.

ejército vs tropa

Both refer to soldiers.

Ejército is the institution; tropa refers to the collective group of soldiers.

El ejército envió una tropa de cien hombres.

ejército vs milicia

Both are armed groups.

Ejército is professional/state-run; milicia is often civilian/irregular.

El ejército nacional derrotó a la milicia rebelde.

ejército vs militar

Related to the same field.

Ejército is the noun (army); militar can be an adjective or a noun for a person.

Ese militar pertenece al ejército de tierra.

Sentence Patterns

El ejército es [adjetivo].

El ejército es fuerte.

Hay un ejército en [lugar].

Hay un ejército en la frontera.

Él quiere unirse al ejército.

Mi amigo quiere unirse al ejército.

El ejército ayuda a [personas].

El ejército ayuda a los ciudadanos.

El ejército fue enviado para [verbo].

El ejército fue enviado para proteger la zona.

Bajo el mando del ejército...

Bajo el mando del ejército, la ciudad se calmó.

La influencia del ejército en [tema]...

La influencia del ejército en la economía es notable.

Se cuestiona la legitimidad del ejército en...

Se cuestiona la legitimidad del ejército en el conflicto actual.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

High in news and history; moderate in daily life.

Common Mistakes

La ejército → El ejército
The word is masculine, regardless of the gender of the soldiers.
Hacer ejército → Hacer ejercicio
Ejército is the military; ejercicio is a workout.
El ejército son grandes → El ejército es grande
Collective nouns take singular verbs in Spanish.
Unirse a el ejército → Unirse al ejército
Remember the contraction 'a + el = al'.
Ejercito (no accent) → Ejército
Without the accent, 'ejercito' means 'I exercise'. The noun must have the accent.

Tips

Singular Agreement

Even if an army has millions of soldiers, the word 'ejército' is singular. Say 'El ejército está', not 'El ejército están'.

Don't Exercise the Army

Never say 'hacer ejército' for working out. Use 'hacer ejercicio'. This is the #1 mistake learners make.

The Stress Test

The accent on the 'é' is vital. If you don't stress the first syllable, people might not understand you.

History Matters

In Latin America, 'el ejército' often brings up historical memories of independence or political change. Use the word with awareness of this context.

Metaphors

Use 'ejército' to describe any large, disciplined group to sound more fluent and descriptive.

The 'J' Sound

The 'j' in Spanish is strong. Make sure it sounds like a raspy breath, not a soft English 'h'.

Context Clues

If you hear 'ejército' in a religious context, it's likely the 'Ejército de Salvación'.

Official Names

When writing formally about a specific nation's army, capitalize it: 'el Ejército de Chile'.

Tap the R

The 'r' in ejército is a single tap. Don't roll it like a double 'rr'.

Group vs Individual

Always remember: 'ejército' = the whole group, 'soldado' = one person.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine an 'EXtra LARGE' group of soldiers doing 'EXercises'—that is the EX-ército.

Visual Association

Picture a massive square of soldiers in green uniforms, all moving in perfect sync like a single machine.

Word Web

soldado guerra nación uniforme arma defensa general cuartel

Challenge

Try to write three sentences about a famous historical army using the word 'ejército' at least once in each.

Word Origin

From the Latin word 'exercitus'.

Original meaning: Exercise, training, or a body of trained troops.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

Be aware that in some Latin American countries, discussing the army can be a sensitive political topic due to past military regimes.

In English, we often say 'the military' to cover everything. In Spanish, 'el ejército' is more specific to land forces, while 'los militares' or 'las fuerzas armadas' is closer to 'the military'.

El Ejército de los Andes (San Martín's army) El Ejército Libertador (Bolívar's army) Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (EZLN in Mexico)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

History Class

El ejército libertador
La batalla decisiva
El mando militar
La rendición del ejército

News Reports

Despliegue de tropas
Misión de paz
Presupuesto de defensa
Ayuda humanitaria

Personal Life

Hacer el servicio militar
Estar en la reserva
Unirse a las filas
Carrera militar

Fiction/Movies

El ejército invasor
Un ejército secreto
Liderar la carga
Soldados de fortuna

Metaphorical

Un ejército de fans
Un ejército de voluntarios
Un ejército de hormigas
Movilizar un ejército

Conversation Starters

"¿Crees que es necesario tener un ejército profesional en todos los países?"

"¿Conoces a alguien que haya servido en el ejército?"

"¿Cuál ha sido el ejército más poderoso de la historia, en tu opinión?"

"¿Qué opinas sobre el servicio militar obligatorio?"

"¿Cómo ayuda el ejército en tu país durante los desastres naturales?"

Journal Prompts

Describe cómo te imaginas la vida diaria de una persona que está en el ejército.

Escribe sobre un momento histórico donde un ejército cambió el destino de una nación.

Si tuvieras un ejército de voluntarios para mejorar el mundo, ¿qué les pedirías que hicieran?

Reflexiona sobre la diferencia entre un ejército de defensa y un ejército de ataque.

Imagina que eres un general: ¿cuáles serían tus tres reglas más importantes para tu ejército?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Es masculino. Siempre se dice 'el ejército' o 'un ejército'. No existe la forma femenina 'la ejercita'.

'Ejército' se refiere específicamente a la fuerza terrestre. 'Fuerzas Armadas' es el conjunto de ejército, armada y fuerza aérea.

Se dice 'Ejército de Salvación'. Se usa para la organización benéfica.

Porque es una palabra esdrújula. Las palabras esdrújulas siempre llevan tilde en la antepenúltima sílaba.

Sí, es común usarlo metafóricamente, por ejemplo: 'un ejército de hormigas' o 'un ejército de langostas'.

Se puede decir 'unirse al ejército', 'entrar en el ejército' o 'ingresar en el ejército'.

Sí, es muy común en noticias, libros de historia y conversaciones sobre política o seguridad nacional.

El plural es 'ejércitos'. Se usa cuando hablas de las fuerzas de varios países.

Es el nombre oficial en muchos países para la rama del ejército que opera en el suelo.

Se escribe con mayúscula (Ejército) cuando se refiere a la institución nacional específica, como en 'el Ejército Español'.