Somatenes (en. Somatenes)

/so.maˈte.nes/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishSpanish

noun

Group of citizens who organize for the defense and security of the community.

During the riots, the somatenes gathered to protect their neighborhoods.

Durante los disturbios, los somatenes se reunieron para proteger sus vecindarios.

Local militia that acts autonomously for the maintenance of public order.

The somatenes were fundamental in the fight against banditry in the region.

Los somatenes fueron fundamentales en la lucha contra el bandolerismo en la región.

Derives from the Catalan term 'somatén', which refers to the action of gathering to defend oneself.

neighborhood somatenes

Reference to groups of citizens organized in a specific area.

somatenes de barrio

act as somatenes

Means to defend or protect a place or community autonomously.

actuar como somatenes

vigilante

A person who watches over or guards something or someone.

vigilante

militia

A body of citizens who are not part of the regular army but organize for defense.

milicia

self-defense

The action of defending oneself or others.

autodefensa

Improvised defenders.

In crisis situations, neighbors become somatenes, acting as improvised defenders.

En situaciones de crisis, los vecinos se convierten en somatenes, actuando como defensores improvisados.

Community watch group.

A group of somatenes was organized to patrol the neighborhood during the night.

Se organizó un grupo de somatenes para patrullar el barrio durante la noche.