ajenos

Ajenos is the plural masculine form of the Spanish adjective ajeno, meaning belonging to another, not one’s own, foreign, or external. The feminine form is ajena and the plural feminine is ajenas. The term is used to describe possessions, ideas, people, or places that are outside the speaker’s jurisdiction, familiarity, or affinity. Its etymology traces to Latin alienus, via Old Spanish ajeno, sharing roots with related words in other Romance languages.

The adjective ajeno is used to indicate something that does not belong to the speaker or to a given group, or that lies outside one’s knowledge or experience. Common constructions include lo ajeno (that which belongs to others) and ser ajeno a matter (to be unfamiliar with something). In everyday speech, ajenos can refer to outsiders or to things outside one’s own circle or country. Examples: “Esas ideas son ajenas a mi forma de pensar” and “Los ajenos a la fiesta no se presentaron.”

In cultural and literary contexts, the term is often employed to explore themes of otherness, foreign influence, or detachment. It may appear in literary, journalistic, or academic discourse to contrast what is familiar with what is ajeno. Some discussions frame lo ajeno in relation to cultural identity, social boundaries, or the tension between belonging and distance.

See also: Extranjero, Foráneo, Otherness.