público

Público is a word used in Spanish and Portuguese with related meanings tied to the people or to the general audience. Its etymology traces to Latin publicus, meaning “of the people” or “for the people.”

In Spanish, público can function as a noun or an adjective. As a noun, el público refers to the audience or spectators at a performance or event, and more broadly to the general public. Examples: “El público aplaudió” or “información para el público.” As an adjective, público describes things related to the state, society, or people at large, as in sector público, servicios públicos, or empleo público. The feminine form is pública when describing feminine nouns, as in seguridad pública. The word is stressed on the first syllable: pú-bli-co.

In Portuguese, público similarly serves as a noun and an adjective. As a noun, o público denotes the audience or the general public. As an adjective, público describes what relates to the public, as in bens públicos, setor público. The feminine form is pública, and the plural forms are públicos and públicas. Common compounds include público-alvo (target audience) and serviço público (public service). The standard pronunciation places the stress on the í: pú-bli-co.

Usage notes and variants: In both languages, público is frequently paired with sector, serviço, or alvo to specify public-related concepts. In economics, bines públicos (Spanish) or bens públicos (Portuguese) refer to goods that are non-excludable and non-rivalrous. The term contrasts with privado/privada, meaning private.