gallego

Galician

adjective gah-YEH-goh Less Common

Usage Note

Gallego refers to anything from Galicia, the autonomous region in northwestern Spain, and also names the Galician language (habla gallego), a Romance language closely related to Portuguese. As a noun it can mean a Galician person. In some Latin American slang, gallego is an informal term for any Spaniard, though this use can carry a slightly mocking tone.

Examples

"El pulpo gallego es un plato típico."

Natural Translation

Galician octopus is a typical dish.

Literal Translation

The octopus Galician is a dish typical

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Por vs Para in Spanish: One Mental Model, No Acronyms

Por looks backward at cause and path; para looks forward at goal and destination. Master por vs para in Spanish with one mental model — no acronyms needed.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Mexican Spanish Slang Every Traveler Should Know

Mexican Spanish slang decoded for travelers: what güey, mande, órale, and ahorita really mean, who you can safely say them to, and how rude each one is.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Te Quiero vs Te Amo: Saying "I Love You" in Spanish

Te quiero vs te amo, explained: te quiero is the warm, safe everyday I love you; te amo is deeper and more romantic. A relationship-by-relationship map.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Ser vs. Estar: When to Use Each in Spanish

Ser vs estar made simple: how you feel and where you are use estar, everything else uses ser. Master the rule, the exceptions, and the traps that flip meaning.

June 3, 2026 6 min read