alien
gb/ˈeɪliən/ us/ˈeɪliən/
B1
Inglés
~ 6000
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Sustantivo
B1
entity
1
a creature from another planet
A creature or person that comes from another planet, not from Earth.
Patrón de uso:
an alien [from another planet]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes think "alien" always means a creature from space. However, in many contexts it can also mean a foreign person or something very strange and unfamiliar. Check the context to see which meaning is intended.
Sinónimos
extraterrestrial (More technical or scientific; often used as a noun or adjective in formal or science contexts.)
Antónimos
human (Contrasts a non-Earth creature with people from Earth.)
Colocaciones
aliens exist
|alien life
|alien spaceship
|alien invasion
|alien planet
|alien species
Temas
science
|entertainment
|technology
|space
Ejemplos
- In the movie, an alien lands in a small town and tries to make friends with the local children.
- Scientists still do not know whether intelligent aliens exist anywhere in the universe.
- The book describes a peaceful alien who is shocked by human violence.
- They claimed they had been taken onto an alien spaceship in the middle of the night.
- The video game lets you play as an alien exploring different galaxies.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- Do you think aliens are real?
- In this story, a kind alien visits Earth.
- The boy draws a green alien with big eyes.
- People in the town are afraid of the alien.
- She watches many films about aliens and space.
adjective
B2
property
2
very strange or unfamiliar
Very new and strange to someone; not part of their normal life, ideas, or feelings.
Patrón de uso:
alien to [someone/something]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use "alien" instead of "strange" or "weird" in very casual speech. While this is not wrong, "alien" is stronger and sounds more formal or dramatic. Also, many learners do not use the common pattern "alien to [someone/something]"; this pattern is natural and should be learned as a chunk.
Sinónimos
strange (More general and common; does not always suggest strong difference from someone's normal world.)
Antónimos
familiar (Describes something known and comfortable, the opposite of being strange or different.)
Colocaciones
feel alien
|seem alien
|alien concept
|alien culture
|ideas alien to [someone]
|values alien to [something]
Temas
emotions
|culture
|society
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The idea of working long hours without extra pay is completely alien to her.
- His direct way of speaking felt alien to a company culture that avoided conflict.
- Growing up in the countryside, city life was alien to him at first.
- These values are alien to our tradition of open discussion.
- The customs of the region were fascinating but initially alien to the visitors.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The food was good, but the taste was alien to me.
- This way of teaching is alien to many students.
- The rules here are alien to what I know.
- Living alone was alien to her after many years with family.
- His style is alien to our team.
Sustantivo
formal
B2
entity
3
non-citizen living in a country
A person who lives in a country but is not a citizen of that country, used mainly in law and official writing.
Patrón de uso:
an alien [with/without legal status]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use "alien" for foreign people in everyday conversation. In modern English, this can sound old‑fashioned or offensive. It is safer to say "foreigner", "immigrant", or "a person from another country" in neutral speech, and reserve "alien" for legal or historical contexts.
Sinónimos
foreigner (More common in everyday speech and less legal; can sound neutral or negative depending on tone.)
Antónimos
citizen (A person who legally belongs to a country, the opposite of a non‑citizen in that country.)
Colocaciones
illegal alien
|resident alien
|alien registration
|alien status
|alien population
|deport an alien
Temas
law
|society
|politics
Ejemplos
- Under the new law, any alien convicted of a serious crime may be deported.
- The form asks whether you are a citizen or an alien of the state.
- He entered the country as an alien and later became a naturalized citizen.
- Resident alien status allows foreign nationals to work and pay taxes.
- The court must decide if the alien has a legal right to remain in the country.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- In some laws, the word "alien" means a person from another country.
- The document says he is an alien, not a citizen.
- An alien can sometimes become a citizen after many years.
- The office helps an alien understand the rules.
- She works in an office that gives advice to aliens about visas.
adjective
formal
B2
property
4
from another country or culture
From another country or culture; not native to that place.
Patrón de uso:
alien [culture/customs/species/law]
Error frecuente:
Learners may overuse "alien" instead of "foreign". In most everyday situations, "foreign" is the natural choice. "Alien" sounds more formal or literary, or appears in technical phrases like "alien species" in environmental science.
Sinónimos
foreign (More common and neutral; used in all types of speech.)
Antónimos
native (Describes something originally from the place, the opposite of being from outside.)
Colocaciones
alien culture
|alien customs
|alien influences
|alien species
|alien law
|alien land
Temas
culture
|society
|law
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The government tried to limit what it saw as alien cultural influences.
- The novel explores the experience of living in an alien environment far from home.
- Many local plants are threatened by alien species introduced from overseas.
- The settlers viewed the land as empty, ignoring its significance to the alien tribe.
- Alien laws were imposed on the region after the conquest.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- They moved to a country with an alien culture.
- The farmer worries about alien plants in his field.
- These rules are alien to local tradition.
- She studies how alien species change the forest.
- The story is about a boy in an alien land.
adjective
B1
property
5
from another planet
From another planet, not from Earth.
Patrón de uso:
alien [life/form/species/world]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes do not realize that "alien" can be both a noun and an adjective. When it comes before a noun ("alien life", "alien world"), it is an adjective describing something from another planet.
Sinónimos
extraterrestrial (Often used as a scientific or technical adjective; slightly more formal.)
Antónimos
earthly (Relating to Earth, contrasting with things from other planets.)
Colocaciones
alien life
|alien world
|alien civilization
|alien spacecraft
|alien form
|alien environment
Temas
science
|technology
|entertainment
|space
Ejemplos
- Scientists are searching for signs of alien life on distant planets.
- The film shows an alien world covered in blue forests and floating mountains.
- They studied the strange biology of the alien species found on the asteroid.
- The astronaut dreamed of meeting alien civilizations among the stars.
- The probe sent back images of an alien landscape unlike anything on Earth.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- We do not know if alien life exists.
- The movie is about an alien world.
- They think a small signal may be from alien life.
- She writes a story about an alien city in space.
- The robot lands on an alien planet.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
alien
AFI
GB/ˈeɪliən/
US/ˈeɪliən/
Sílabas y acento
ali - en (2 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (ali)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: alien
Noun
- Base: alien
- Plural: aliens
Familia de palabras
Forms
aliens
noun
Core family
alienate
verb B2
Related words
alienation
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
inalienable
adjective
Expresiones
alien invasion
1/ˈeɪliən ɪnvˈeɪʒən/
fixed phrase
attack on Earth by aliens
An attack on Earth by creatures from another planet, especially in movies, books, and games.
Ejemplos
- The movie is about an alien invasion that starts in a small coastal town.
- He loves games that let you defend the planet from an alien invasion.
- The comic tells the story of a failed alien invasion of Earth.
alien life
1/ˈeɪliən lˈaɪf/
fixed phrase
life beyond Earth
Life that exists somewhere in the universe other than on Earth.
Ejemplos
- Scientists debate how likely alien life is in our galaxy.
- The telescope was built to search for signs of alien life.
- Many people enjoy stories that imagine alien life visiting Earth.
alien to [someone/something]
1/ˈeɪliən tə sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
completely unfamiliar or not fitting
To be very strange or not normal for a person, group, or situation.
Ejemplos
- The idea of strict time schedules was alien to the villagers.
- Honest discussion is alien to a culture of fear.
- Fast internet was alien to many remote communities until recently.
illegal alien
1/ɪlˈiɡəl ˈeɪliən/
fixed phrase
technical
non-citizen without legal status
A non‑citizen who lives in a country without official permission, used mainly in law and politics; often seen as negative or offensive in everyday speech.
Ejemplos
- The new bill changes how the government treats an illegal alien who has lived in the country for many years.
- Many organizations avoid using the term "illegal alien" because of its negative tone.
- The report estimated the number of illegal aliens working in the region.
resident alien
1/ɹˈɛzɪdənt ˈeɪliən/
fixed phrase
technical
non-citizen with legal residence
A person who is not a citizen of a country but has official permission to live there, especially in tax and immigration law.
Ejemplos
- As a resident alien, she must file a special tax form each year.
- The application explains the rights and duties of a resident alien.
- He changed his status from visitor to resident alien after getting a work visa.