ajeno
Lemma Details
Translation: foreign; alien; strange; belonging to another; unrelated; unfamiliar; other people's
Part of Speech: adjective
Etymology: From Latin 'aliēnus' meaning 'belonging to another', which derives from 'alius' meaning 'other'. This same Latin root gave English words like 'alien' and 'alienate'. The phonetic shift from Latin 'aliēnus' to Spanish 'ajeno' follows a common pattern where the Latin 'li' combination evolved into the Spanish 'j' sound.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 40%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Este problema es ajeno a mí.
This problem is not my concern.
No te metas en asuntos ajenos.
Don't meddle in other people's affairs.
Me siento ajeno a esta cultura.
I feel foreign to this culture.
Ella siempre ha sido ajena a la política.
She has always been uninterested in politics.
Respeta lo ajeno.
Respect what belongs to others.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'alien' in English, which shares the same Latin root and similar meaning of 'foreign' or 'not belonging'.
- The 'a' at the beginning can remind you of 'another's' - something that belongs to another person.
- The 'j' sound (like an 'h' in English) can remind you of exhaling with surprise when encountering something unfamiliar.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish culture, the concept of 'ajeno' often appears in discussions about respecting others' property and privacy. The phrase 'respetar lo ajeno' (to respect what belongs to others) is a common moral teaching. The word also carries connotations in discussions about cultural identity and belonging.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'ajeno' means 'foreign' or 'belonging to another', 'lejano' means 'distant' or 'far away'. They sound somewhat similar but have different meanings.
Notes: Both words can describe separation, but 'ajeno' is about belonging or relation, while 'lejano' is about physical or temporal distance.
Mnemonic: 'Ajeno' starts with 'a' for 'another's'; 'lejano' starts with 'l' for 'long distance'.
Explanation: 'Ajeno' emphasizes ownership or relation (belonging to another), while 'extraño' emphasizes unfamiliarity or strangeness.
Confused word:
Tiene un comportamiento extraño.
He has strange behavior.
Notes: These words can be synonyms in some contexts but have different primary meanings.
Mnemonic: Think of 'extraño' as 'extra-strange', while 'ajeno' is about ownership ('a-jenowned' by someone else).