nacionales

Nacionales is a Spanish term that functions as both an adjective and a plural noun. As an adjective, it denotes anything related to a nation, its government, institutions, or its people. Examples include política nacional (national policy), economía nacional (national economy), and identidad nacional (national identity). The term is used to distinguish domestic, state-level, or countrywide matters from regional or international ones.

As a noun, nacionales can refer to the people who belong to a nation, i.e., the citizens or residents of a country. In this sense, “los nacionales” or “las personas nacionales” are contrasted with “los extranjeros” (foreigners) or with other demographic groups in legal, political, or media contexts. The noun usage is common in discussions of nationality, citizenship, and immigration.

In everyday language, the word also appears in phrases associated with national teams and national media, such as la selección nacional (the national team) or medios de comunicación nacionales (national media). The term is widely understood across Spanish-speaking regions and is typically neutral in tone, without implying value judgments about patriotism or nationalism.

Etymology and related terms: nacional derives from Latin nationalis, from natio “birth, people, nation.” Related concepts include nacionalidad (nationality), identidad nacional (national identity), nacionalismo (nationalism), and ciudadanía (citizenship).

See also: nationality, national identity, citizenship, national policy, national team, national media.