Propios

Propios is the plural masculine form of the Spanish adjective propio, used to indicate ownership, belonging, or inherent characteristics associated with a subject. It can translate as “one’s own,” “own,” or “proper” depending on context. The feminine plural is propias, and the neuter form lo propio appears in fixed expressions.

Etymology and grammar

Propio derives from Latin proprius, meaning private or belonging to oneself. In Spanish, the adjective agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies: recursos propios (own resources), ideas propias (own ideas). It can also function predicatively, as in es propio de la especie, meaning “it is characteristic of the species.” The phrase lo propio is used to refer to the proper or fitting thing in a given situation, as in hacer lo propio.

Usage and examples

Propios frequently appears in expressions that contrast what is “one’s own” with what is external or borrowed. Common collocations include recursos propios, medios propios, costos propios, and términos propios (own terms). It is also used with phrases like a sus propios términos or con sus propios medios to emphasize acting with one’s own means. In business and finance, fondos propios refers to a company’s own funds as opposed to borrowed capital.

Notes on nuance

Propio emphasizes ownership, authenticity, or suitability, and can carry a sense of privacy or individuality. It contrasts with ajeno (belonging to others) in contexts that highlight personal or internal aspects. The opposite sense, “proper” or “correct” in a given situation, is often expressed through lo propio or lo correcto, with propio conveying inherent suitability rather than external standards.

See also

propiedad, propietario, propio, ajeno, lo propio.