Cívicos

Cívicos is the plural form of the Spanish adjective cívico, used to describe things related to citizens, civil society, or public life. The term emphasizes aspects tied to citizen participation, duties, and virtues within a democracy or community. The feminine plural form is cívicas, and the masculine plural cívicos is used when referring to masculine or mixed-gender nouns (for example, valores cívicos, actos cívicos).

Etymology and scope: cívico comes from the Latin civicus through the evolution of terms related to citizenship and civil life. It is distinct from civil in legal or administrative senses, though they are etymologically related, as both revolve around the idea of citizens and public life. In Spanish, cívicos frequently appears in educational, political, cultural, and social contexts.

Common usages: expressions such as educación cívica (civics education), valores cívicos (civic values), participación cívica (civic participation), and conciencia cívica (civic consciousness) are widespread. The phrase actos cívicos or iniciativas cívicas refers to events or initiatives aimed at promoting citizen involvement. In journalism and policy discourse, cívicos helps frame discussions around democratic engagement, community responsibilities, and the functioning of civil society.

Notes: cívico is a neutral, descriptive term. It should not be confused with civil in the legal sense, though both share roots in public life and citizenship. As with many adjectives, agreement in gender and number aligns with the nouns they modify. See also civic, ciudadanía, and educación cívica for related concepts.