Proficient Spanish
Master subtle distinctions with 250 proficient Spanish words for literary, intellectual, formal, and highly nuanced expression.
At C2, the challenge is choosing exactly the word that matches your intention, audience, and register. This collection emphasizes fine distinctions and flexible expression. Treat every example as a model to adapt, question, and reuse.
Scrutinize sources, expose weak logic and draw fine distinctions in demanding argument.
to assess precisely; to weigh up
Todavía es pronto para aquilatar el verdadero alcance de la reforma educativa.
It is still too early to assess the true scope of the education reform precisely.
Usage note From assaying gold by carats («quilates»): judging the exact worth of something. Formal and elegant; «valorar» is the neutral verb.
to deduce; to gather
De sus evasivas cabe colegir que conocía el problema mucho antes de que estallara.
From his evasions one can gather that he knew about the problem long before it broke.
Usage note Irregular like «elegir» (colijo, coligió). Typical frame: «de ello se colige que…». Literary alternative to «deducir».
to unravel; to get to the bottom of
Los periodistas tardaron dos años en desentrañar la red de sociedades que ocultaba el fraude.
The journalists took two years to unravel the network of companies concealing the fraud.
Usage note Literally to disembowel; figuratively to uncover the hidden core of a mystery, text or scheme.
to scrutinize; to scan
La historiadora escudriñó los márgenes del manuscrito en busca de anotaciones del autor.
The historian scrutinized the manuscript's margins for the author's annotations.
Usage note Searching, meticulous examination, often with the eyes: «escudriñar el horizonte». More intense than «examinar».
to cross-check; to compare
Antes de publicar la cifra, la redactora la cotejó con la fuente original del ministerio.
Before publishing the figure, the editor cross-checked it against the ministry's original source.
Usage note Pattern: «cotejar A con B». Used for documents, signatures, data and versions of a text.
to distort; to undermine the essence of
Resumir su argumento en un titular acabaría desvirtuando el sentido de toda la entrevista.
Reducing his argument to a headline would end up distorting the meaning of the whole interview.
Usage note Strips something of its real nature or force; accent on ú in some forms. Common with «el sentido», «el espíritu de la ley».
to falsify; to misrepresent
La auditoría demostró que la empresa había falseado sus balances durante al menos tres ejercicios.
The audit showed that the company had falsified its accounts for at least three financial years.
Usage note Deliberate alteration of data, documents or facts. «Falsificar» is preferred for forging objects such as banknotes.
to contrast; to set against
La novela contrapone la memoria íntima de una familia a la versión oficial de la guerra.
The novel sets a family's private memory against the official version of the war.
Usage note Conjugated like «poner». Pattern: «contraponer A a B». «Intereses contrapuestos» means opposing interests.
to juxtapose
El montaje yuxtapone escenas domésticas con imágenes de archivo de los bombardeos.
The editing juxtaposes domestic scenes with archive footage of the bombings.
Usage note Placing things side by side without an explicit link. In grammar, «oraciones yuxtapuestas» are clauses joined without conjunctions.
to piece together; to tack (sewing)
Con testimonios fragmentarios, la fiscal hilvanó un relato coherente de lo ocurrido aquella noche.
From fragmentary testimony, the prosecutor pieced together a coherent account of what happened that night.
Usage note In sewing, to tack loosely; figuratively, to link ideas into a whole. «Mal hilvanado» describes a disjointed speech.
to demarcate; to distinguish clearly
Conviene deslindar la responsabilidad política de la penal antes de pedir dimisiones.
Political responsibility should be clearly distinguished from criminal liability before demanding resignations.
Usage note Literally to mark land boundaries («lindes»). Pattern: «deslindar A de B». Formal and precise.
fallacy; deceit
Presentar la subida de impuestos como la única alternativa es una falacia de falso dilema.
Presenting the tax rise as the only alternative is a false-dilemma fallacy.
Usage note Flawed reasoning that looks valid; in everyday Spanish it can also simply mean a lie or deception.
sophism; specious argument
Calificar toda crítica de traición es un sofisma al que recurren todos los autoritarismos.
Branding all criticism as treason is a specious argument that every authoritarian regime resorts to.
Usage note Deliberately misleading argument with a veneer of logic, stronger than «falacia» in implying bad faith.
dilemma; either-or choice
Los agricultores se enfrentan a la disyuntiva de vender las tierras o endeudarse otra vez.
The farmers face the choice of selling their land or going into debt again.
Usage note A choice between two options: «estar ante la disyuntiva de…». «Falsa disyuntiva» is a false dilemma.
digression
Tras una larga digresión sobre su infancia, el conferenciante volvió por fin al tema anunciado.
After a long digression about his childhood, the speaker finally returned to the announced topic.
Usage note A departure from the main thread: «perdonen la digresión». Verb: «divagar» (to ramble).
subtext
Bajo la cortesía del comunicado se percibe un subtexto claramente amenazante.
Beneath the statement's courtesy a clearly threatening subtext can be sensed.
Usage note The implicit meaning beneath what is said. Common in literary and political analysis; «entre líneas» is the colloquial idea.
fallacious; deceitful
Aunque suena persuasivo, el razonamiento es falaz porque confunde correlación con causa.
Although it sounds persuasive, the reasoning is fallacious because it confuses correlation with cause.
Usage note For arguments and people: «un discurso falaz», «una promesa falaz». Plural «falaces».
loaded; trick (question)
La entrevistada se negó a responder una pregunta tan capciosa sobre su vida privada.
The interviewee refused to answer such a loaded question about her private life.
Usage note Designed to trap: «pregunta capciosa». Different from «caprichoso» (whimsical).
Name and judge the tone, devices and texture of speeches, essays and reviews.
to summarize; to condense
El prólogo compendia en cuatro páginas medio siglo de debates sobre la lengua.
The foreword condenses half a century of debates about the language into four pages.
Usage note Formal: to gather the essentials of a larger body. «Un compendio» is a digest or handbook.
to paraphrase
Parafraseando a un célebre economista, podríamos decir que la inflación es siempre política.
Paraphrasing a famous economist, we could say that inflation is always political.
Usage note «Parafraseando a…» is a common way to adapt a quotation. Noun: «la paráfrasis» (invariable plural).
to be ironic; to remark ironically
El columnista ironiza sobre la supuesta austeridad de una ceremonia que costó millones.
The columnist is ironic about the supposed austerity of a ceremony that cost millions.
Usage note Usually «ironizar sobre algo». In reported speech, «ironizó» often introduces a quoted barb.
to satirize
La obra satiriza la obsesión de la alta sociedad por aparentar lo que no tiene.
The play satirizes high society's obsession with appearing to have what it lacks.
Usage note Criticism through ridicule. Related: «la sátira», «satírico». Stronger and more literary than «burlarse de».
to caricature; to oversimplify
El debate se empobrece cuando cada bando caricaturiza la postura del contrario.
The debate is impoverished when each side caricatures the other's position.
Usage note Beyond drawing, it means reducing a view to a crude exaggeration, a key charge in argument («hombre de paja»).
to subvert
La directora subvierte las convenciones del western al convertir a la víctima en narradora.
The director subverts the conventions of the western by turning the victim into the narrator.
Usage note Stem-changing (subvierto, subvirtió). In politics, «subvertir el orden» has a stronger, subversive ring.
to foreshadow; to anticipate
La tormenta de la primera escena prefigura la tragedia con la que termina la novela.
The storm in the first scene foreshadows the tragedy with which the novel ends.
Usage note Anticipating a later event or form: «estas protestas prefiguran un cambio político».
to restrain; to rein in
La portavoz refrenó su indignación para no romper el tono institucional de la rueda de prensa.
The spokesperson reined in her indignation so as not to break the institutional tone of the press conference.
Usage note From «freno» (brake): holding back an impulse. Often with «la lengua», «la ira», «los impulsos».
to withhold; to spirit away
El informe escamotea precisamente los datos que contradicen la versión del gobierno.
The report conveniently leaves out precisely the data that contradict the government's version.
Usage note Hiding or removing something by sleight of hand; implies trickery. «Escamotear información, esfuerzos, un derecho».
ellipsis
Una elipsis de diez años separa el primer capítulo del segundo sin ninguna explicación.
A ten-year ellipsis separates the first chapter from the second without any explanation.
Usage note Omission the reader or viewer fills in. Invariable plural. In punctuation, «puntos suspensivos» are the dots.
antithesis; direct opposite
Su estilo sobrio es la antítesis de la retórica inflamada de su predecesor.
His sober style is the very opposite of his predecessor's inflamed rhetoric.
Usage note Both a rhetorical contrast and, colloquially, «the exact opposite»: «es la antítesis de lo que prometió».
circumlocution; roundabout way of speaking
Tras varios circunloquios, el director admitió que el proyecto se había cancelado.
After a great deal of beating about the bush, the director admitted the project had been canceled.
Usage note Formal word for «rodeo». Colloquial equivalent: «andarse con rodeos» (see the colloquial list).
biting wit; acerbity
La mordacidad de sus reseñas le ganó lectores fieles y enemigos igual de fieles.
The biting wit of her reviews won her loyal readers and equally loyal enemies.
Usage note From «mordaz» (biting, caustic). Describes criticism that stings through wit rather than insult.
grandiloquence; bombast
La grandilocuencia del anuncio contrastaba con la modestia de las medidas reales.
The grandiloquence of the announcement contrasted with the modesty of the actual measures.
Usage note Pompous, inflated speech. Adjective: «grandilocuente». Near-synonym: «ampulosidad».
euphemism
«Ajuste de plantilla» no es más que un eufemismo para anunciar despidos masivos.
«Workforce adjustment» is nothing more than a euphemism for announcing mass layoffs.
Usage note A key concept in media and political criticism. Opposite: «disfemismo» (a deliberately harsh term).
incisive; cutting
Sus preguntas incisivas desmontaron en minutos la versión que el alcalde había preparado.
Her incisive questions demolished the mayor's prepared version in minutes.
Usage note Sharp and penetrating, sometimes wounding. «Los incisivos» are also the front teeth.
pithy; terse and definitive
El seleccionador resumió la derrota con una frase lapidaria: «No estuvimos a la altura».
The coach summed up the defeat with a terse, definitive line: «We did not measure up».
Usage note A short, memorable statement that sounds final, as if carved in stone («lápida»). Not necessarily scathing.
pompous; overblown
El lenguaje ampuloso del informe resta credibilidad a unas propuestas bastante sensatas.
The report's overblown language undermines the credibility of some fairly sensible proposals.
Usage note Pejorative for inflated style. Close to «grandilocuente», «rimbombante» (more colloquial).
convoluted; tedious and confusing
El contrato está redactado en un lenguaje tan farragoso que nadie lo lee completo.
The contract is written in such convoluted language that nobody reads it to the end.
Usage note Describes texts or speeches that are messy, dense and heavy going. From «fárrago» (a jumble).
long-winded; meticulous
La explicación, demasiado prolija, perdió a la mitad del público antes del final.
The explanation, far too long-winded, lost half the audience before the end.
Usage note In Spain mostly «long-winded»; in the Río de la Plata region it often means neat and meticulous.
Discuss how literature and art transform memory, myth and meaning.
to avert; to ward off; to conjure
La escritura le sirvió para conjurar el miedo de que aquella historia cayera en el olvido.
Writing helped her ward off the fear that the story would be forgotten.
Usage note Formal: to avert a danger («conjurar una crisis»). Also to invoke spirits; «conjurarse» means to conspire.
to recall; to reminisce about
Desde la vejez, la narradora rememora aquel verano en que todo cambió para su familia.
From old age, the narrator recalls that summer when everything changed for her family.
Usage note Literary alternative to «recordar», suggesting deliberate, often nostalgic evocation.
to personify; to embody
Para muchos votantes, aquella candidata personificaba la renovación que pedía el país.
For many voters, that candidate embodied the renewal the country was demanding.
Usage note Both the literary device and «to embody a quality». Close to «encarnar».
to objectify
La campaña fue retirada por cosificar a las mujeres que aparecían en los anuncios.
The campaign was withdrawn for objectifying the women who appeared in the ads.
Usage note From «cosa»: treating a person as a thing. Frequent in feminist and ethical criticism.
to demythologize; to debunk
La biografía desmitifica al héroe nacional sin negar la importancia de sus logros.
The biography demythologizes the national hero without denying the importance of his achievements.
Usage note Stripping away an idealized aura. «Desmitificar la vida del artista» is typical of criticism and journalism.
to extol; to praise highly
La crítica ensalzó la valentía de una novela que aborda el abuso sin sensacionalismo.
Critics extolled the courage of a novel that tackles abuse without sensationalism.
Usage note Elevated praise; spelling change in «ensalcé». More formal than «alabar» or «elogiar».
to vilify; to revile
El panfleto vitupera a los disidentes con una retórica abiertamente incendiaria.
The pamphlet reviles the dissidents with openly inflammatory rhetoric.
Usage note Strong, formal condemnation. Noun: «el vituperio». Literary register.
leitmotif; recurring theme
La corrupción es el leitmotiv de una campaña electoral sin apenas propuestas concretas.
Corruption is the leitmotif of an election campaign with hardly any concrete proposals.
Usage note From German; spelled with v and pronounced with a Spanish t. Used in art and, figuratively, in politics.
intertextuality
La intertextualidad con el Quijote recorre toda la novela, desde el título hasta el final.
Intertextuality with Don Quixote runs through the whole novel, from the title to the end.
Usage note How a text echoes or dialogues with other texts. Common in reviews and literature courses.
the ineffable
La música de Bach, decía el poeta, se acerca a lo inefable mejor que cualquier palabra.
Bach's music, the poet said, comes closer to the ineffable than any word.
Usage note Neuter «lo» + adjective turns a quality into an abstract noun. «Inefable» also works ironically: «el inefable ministro».
elegiac
El último capítulo adopta un tono elegíaco al evocar el barrio que ya no existe.
The last chapter takes on an elegiac tone as it evokes the neighborhood that no longer exists.
Usage note Mournful and reflective about loss. Both «elegíaco» and «elegiaco» are accepted spellings.
allegorical
La travesía del barco admite una lectura alegórica sobre el exilio y la pérdida.
The ship's voyage lends itself to an allegorical reading about exile and loss.
Usage note A sustained symbolic narrative. Noun: «la alegoría». Near-synonym in criticism: «simbólico».
Follow court cases, abuses of power and institutional conflict in quality journalism.
to curtail; to restrict
La vigilancia masiva puede coartar la libertad de expresión de periodistas y activistas.
Mass surveillance can curtail the freedom of expression of journalists and activists.
Usage note Restricting freedom or will. Related to «la coartada» (alibi) only by etymology.
to curtail severely; to cut off
La reforma cercenó competencias que los municipios habían ejercido durante décadas.
The reform severely curtailed powers that municipalities had exercised for decades.
Usage note Literally to cut off at the edges; figuratively, drastic cutting of rights, hopes or powers.
to violate; to infringe
El tribunal anuló el decreto por conculcar derechos fundamentales de los detenidos.
The court annulled the decree for violating the fundamental rights of the detainees.
Usage note Highly formal; used with rights, laws and principles. Everyday equivalent: «violar» or «vulnerar».
to undermine; to impair
Aquellas declaraciones menoscabaron gravemente la imagen de imparcialidad del tribunal.
Those statements seriously undermined the court's image of impartiality.
Usage note Partial damage to value, reputation or rights. «Sin menoscabo de» means without detriment to.
to claim for oneself (improperly)
Ningún ministro puede arrogarse facultades que la Constitución reserva al parlamento.
No minister may claim powers that the Constitution reserves for parliament.
Usage note Always reflexive; implies illegitimate appropriation. Do not confuse with «irrogar» (to cause harm).
to usurp
El consejo denunció que el ejecutivo había usurpado funciones que no le correspondían.
The council alleged that the executive had usurped functions that were not its own.
Usage note Taking power or a role illegitimately. «Usurpación de identidad» is identity theft in legal Spanish.
to seize; to confiscate
La policía se incautó de dos toneladas de cocaína ocultas en un cargamento de fruta.
The police seized two tons of cocaine hidden in a fruit shipment.
Usage note Traditionally reflexive with «de», though «incautar algo» is now widespread in the press. Noun: «la incautación».
to exonerate; to exempt
Las nuevas pruebas exoneraron al funcionario de toda responsabilidad en el accidente.
The new evidence exonerated the official of all responsibility for the accident.
Usage note Pattern: «exonerar a alguien de algo». Also used for exemptions: «exonerado del pago de tasas».
acquiescence; tacit consent
El fraude no habría durado tanto sin la aquiescencia de varios inspectores.
The fraud would not have lasted so long without the tacit consent of several inspectors.
Usage note Passive acceptance rather than active approval. Highly formal; everyday speech would use «consentimiento».
subterfuge; ruse
La sociedad pantalla era solo un subterfugio para eludir los controles fiscales.
The shell company was just a ruse to get around tax controls.
Usage note A deceptive device to evade a rule or obligation. Near-synonyms: «artimaña», «ardid».
prerogative
Disolver las cortes es una prerrogativa que la Constitución atribuye al jefe de Gobierno.
Dissolving parliament is a prerogative the Constitution grants to the head of government.
Usage note A special right attached to an office. Often plural: «las prerrogativas del cargo».
collusion; connivance
La red operó durante años con la connivencia de algunos agentes de aduanas.
The network operated for years with the connivance of some customs officers.
Usage note Knowing tolerance of wrongdoing: «en connivencia con». Stronger than «complicidad» in implying secrecy.
impunity
Las familias temen que la amnistía consagre la impunidad de los responsables.
The families fear that the amnesty will enshrine impunity for those responsible.
Usage note Central term in human-rights discourse, especially in Latin America. Adjective: «impune».
gift; handout; bribe
El código ético prohíbe a los funcionarios aceptar dádivas de empresas contratistas.
The code of ethics forbids officials from accepting gifts from contracting companies.
Usage note Formal word for a gift, often suspect in public life. Proverb: «dádivas quebrantan peñas» (gifts break rocks).
bribery (of officials)
El exalcalde fue condenado por cohecho y tráfico de influencias.
The former mayor was convicted of bribery and influence peddling.
Usage note Legal term for bribing or accepting bribes as a public official. «Soborno» is the everyday word.
abuse of office (knowingly unjust ruling)
La jueza fue acusada de prevaricación por dictar una resolución que sabía injusta.
The judge was charged with abuse of office for issuing a ruling she knew to be unjust.
Usage note False friend: not «prevarication» (evasiveness). In Spanish law, an official knowingly issuing an unjust decision.
contempt; defiance
El tribunal consideró un desacato su negativa reiterada a entregar los documentos.
The court regarded his repeated refusal to hand over the documents as contempt.
Usage note Defiance of authority; «desacato al tribunal» is contempt of court. Related to B2 «acatar» (to comply).
coercion
Un consentimiento obtenido mediante coerción carece de cualquier validez jurídica.
Consent obtained through coercion has no legal validity whatsoever.
Usage note Pressure that forces a will. Adjective: «coercitivo». Distinguish from «coacción» (duress, a crime in Spain).
disqualification (from office)
La sentencia incluye diez años de inhabilitación para ejercer cualquier cargo público.
The sentence includes a ten-year disqualification from holding any public office.
Usage note Common penalty in corruption cases. Verb: «inhabilitar a alguien para algo».
mandatory; required by rule
Para construir en la costa es preceptivo un informe ambiental favorable.
To build on the coast, a favorable environmental report is mandatory.
Usage note Formal and administrative: «es preceptivo + infinitive/noun». Everyday equivalent: «obligatorio».
Describe temperament, manners and moral fiber with the precision of good fiction and profiles.
circumspect; reserved
El embajador se mostró circunspecto hasta conocer todos los detalles del acuerdo.
The ambassador remained circumspect until he knew every detail of the agreement.
Usage note Cautious and grave in speech and behavior. Noun: «la circunspección».
fickle; capricious
Un electorado veleidoso castiga hoy al partido que ayer votó con entusiasmo.
A fickle electorate today punishes the party it enthusiastically voted for yesterday.
Usage note Changing opinions or loyalties on a whim. Noun: «la veleidad». Literary register.
faint-hearted; spineless
La respuesta del gobierno ante la crisis fue tan pusilánime como tardía.
The government's response to the crisis was as spineless as it was late.
Usage note Lacking courage or resolve; critical. Opposite: «magnánimo» or «resuelto».
sly; crafty
El negociador, taimado como pocos, fingió ceder para obtener una ventaja mayor.
The negotiator, crafty like few others, pretended to give way to gain a bigger advantage.
Usage note Quiet, calculating cunning. Near-synonyms: «astuto» (neutral), «ladino», «zorro» (colloquial).
obstinate; persistent (in error)
Su negativa contumaz a reconocer el error acabó con cualquier salida pactada.
His obstinate refusal to admit the mistake ended any negotiated way out.
Usage note Stubborn despite warnings; in law, a defendant in contempt. Plural: «contumaces».
upright; honest
Incluso sus adversarios lo consideraban un funcionario probo e incorruptible.
Even his opponents considered him an upright and incorruptible civil servant.
Usage note Formal praise of integrity. Noun: «la probidad». Opposite: «ímprobo» (dishonest; also «ímprobo esfuerzo», huge effort).
bland; insipid
Tras un comienzo anodino, la película gana una fuerza que nadie esperaba.
After a bland start, the film gains a force that nobody expected.
Usage note Without interest or character. Used for people, speeches and works: «un discurso anodino».
taciturn; gloomy
Desde que cerró la fábrica, su padre estaba taciturno y apenas salía de casa.
Since the factory closed, her father had been taciturn and hardly left the house.
Usage note Silent and melancholy by habit. Slightly literary; «callado» and «reservado» are everyday options.
dismissive; offhand
Respondió con un gesto displicente que incomodó a todos los presentes.
He responded with a dismissive gesture that made everyone present uncomfortable.
Usage note Showing indifference or disdain. Noun: «la displicencia». Often describes tone or gestures.
condescending; patronizing
Su tono condescendiente con los becarios empañó una explicación por lo demás clara.
His condescending tone toward the interns spoiled an otherwise clear explanation.
Usage note Usually negative today. Historically «condescender» meant to accommodate kindly.
recalcitrant; stubborn
Solo un sector recalcitrante del partido se opuso a revisar la norma.
Only a recalcitrant faction of the party opposed revising the rule.
Usage note Obstinately resistant to change or authority. Common in politics: «el ala recalcitrante».
inscrutable
La presidenta mantuvo un rostro inescrutable mientras se leían los resultados.
The president kept an inscrutable face while the results were read out.
Usage note Impossible to read or interpret. Also «los designios inescrutables» (inscrutable designs) in religious or ironic use.
mendacious; lying
Los documentos originales desmontaron punto por punto su relato mendaz.
The original documents dismantled his mendacious account point by point.
Usage note Very formal for «mentiroso». Plural: «mendaces». Noun: «la mendacidad».
despicable; contemptible
La asociación calificó de deleznable el intento de culpar a las víctimas.
The association called the attempt to blame the victims despicable.
Usage note Strong moral condemnation. Its original meaning, crumbly or fragile, survives in formal texts.
commendable; praiseworthy
El esfuerzo es meritorio, aunque el resultado siga siendo claramente insuficiente.
The effort is commendable, although the result is still clearly insufficient.
Usage note Deserving praise. As a noun (Spain, dated), an unpaid trainee.
wry; slyly mocking
Con una sonrisa socarrona, el abuelo dijo que él ya había visto venir la crisis.
With a wry smile, the grandfather said he had seen the crisis coming.
Usage note Humorous and mildly mocking, often while pretending innocence. Noun: «la socarronería».
coarse; boorish
El humor zafio del presentador provocó cientos de quejas de los espectadores.
The presenter's coarse humor provoked hundreds of complaints from viewers.
Usage note Crude and lacking refinement. Near-synonyms: «grosero», «tosco», «chabacano».
prudish; sanctimonious
La censura de la serie parece más mojigata que la sociedad a la que pretende proteger.
The censorship of the series seems more prudish than the society it claims to protect.
Usage note Excessively scandalized by moral matters, sometimes hypocritically. Colloquial-critical register.
timid; prim; narrow-minded
Aquella sociedad provinciana y pacata no le perdonó que se divorciara.
That provincial and narrow-minded society never forgave her for getting divorced.
Usage note Overly timid or conservative in morals and ideas. Close to «mojigato» but less about hypocrisy.
stern; austere
Detrás de su gesto adusto se escondía un profesor paciente y generoso.
Behind his stern expression was a patient and generous teacher.
Usage note Severe in manner or appearance; also for landscapes: «la adusta meseta castellana».
unsociable; withdrawn
El vecino, huraño y desconfiado, rara vez contestaba a los saludos.
The neighbor, unsociable and distrustful, rarely returned a greeting.
Usage note Avoids company, often gruffly. Near-synonyms: «arisco», «insociable».
self-assurance; cheek; ease
Con apenas veinte años, habló ante el comité con un desparpajo sorprendente.
At barely twenty, she spoke before the committee with surprising self-assurance.
Usage note Confident ease, sometimes bordering on cheekiness. Usually admiring: «hablar con desparpajo».
equanimity; even-handedness
La mediadora escuchó a ambas partes con una ecuanimidad que todos le reconocieron.
The mediator listened to both sides with an even-handedness that everyone acknowledged.
Usage note Both calm temperament and fairness in judgment. Adjective: «ecuánime» (C1).
unhurried calm; slowness
Con una parsimonia exasperante, el ministro buscó sus notas antes de contestar.
With exasperating slowness, the minister looked for his notes before answering.
Usage note In Spanish mainly unhurried slowness; the English sense of «stinginess» is rare.
dismissiveness; indifference
Su displicencia contrastaba con la gravedad de lo que se estaba discutiendo.
Her dismissiveness contrasted with the seriousness of what was being discussed.
Usage note An attitude of cool disdain. Often «con displicencia», describing how someone replies or looks.
whim; fickleness
La política exterior no puede depender de las veleidades de un solo gobernante.
Foreign policy cannot depend on the whims of a single ruler.
Usage note Usually plural: passing, changeable desires. Also «veleidades autoritarias» (authoritarian leanings).
temperance; composure
Mantuvo la templanza incluso cuando los insultos empezaron a llegar desde el público.
She kept her composure even when the insults started coming from the audience.
Usage note One of the classical virtues; moderation and self-control. Also mild weather: «la templanza del clima».
Handle the vocabulary of official documents, legal reasoning and rigorous formal prose.
to endorse; to countersign
La ciudadanía refrendó el nuevo estatuto en un referéndum con alta participación.
Citizens endorsed the new statute in a referendum with high turnout.
Usage note Official approval of a decision or document; «el refrendo» is the endorsement or countersignature.
to record; to set down; to deposit
El acta consigna todas las objeciones formuladas por la oposición durante la sesión.
The minutes record all the objections raised by the opposition during the session.
Usage note Formal: writing something down officially, or depositing money or goods. «Consigna» also means slogan or left-luggage.
to sign; to seal (an agreement)
Los dos presidentes rubricaron el acuerdo al término de una cumbre de tres días.
The two presidents signed the agreement at the end of a three-day summit.
Usage note From «rúbrica», the flourish of a signature. Figuratively, to crown: «rubricó la temporada con un gol».
to challenge (formally); to contest
La oposición impugnó los resultados por irregularidades en el recuento de votos.
The opposition challenged the results over irregularities in the vote count.
Usage note Formal legal challenge to a decision, election or will. Noun: «la impugnación».
aside; parenthetical remark; subsection
Permítanme hacer un inciso antes de continuar con el orden del día.
Allow me to make an aside before continuing with the agenda.
Usage note «Hacer un inciso» is very common in meetings and speeches. In law, a subdivision of an article.
hermeneutics; interpretation
La hermenéutica jurídica estudia cómo deben interpretarse las normas ambiguas.
Legal hermeneutics studies how ambiguous rules should be interpreted.
Usage note The theory of interpretation, used in philosophy, theology and law. Adjective: «hermenéutico».
strict; categorical; exhaustive
El reglamento es taxativo: no se admitirá ninguna solicitud fuera de plazo.
The regulations are categorical: no application will be accepted after the deadline.
Usage note Admits no exceptions or interpretation. Adverb: «taxativamente». Legal and administrative register.
incontrovertible; indisputable
La grabación aporta una prueba incontrovertible de que la reunión sí se celebró.
The recording provides incontrovertible proof that the meeting did take place.
Usage note Beyond dispute. Formal; «indiscutible» is the everyday equivalent.
inherent; intrinsic
La incertidumbre es consustancial a cualquier investigación científica seria.
Uncertainty is inherent in any serious scientific research.
Usage note Pattern: «consustancial a algo». Stronger than «propio de»: part of its very nature.
subsidiary; secondary
La empresa matriz fue declarada responsable civil subsidiaria de los daños.
The parent company was declared secondarily liable for the damages.
Usage note Applies when the main mechanism fails: «responsabilidad subsidiaria». Not «a subsidiary company» («filial»).
obvious; glaring
La contradicción entre ambos testimonios resulta palmaria para cualquier observador.
The contradiction between the two testimonies is glaring to any observer.
Usage note As clear as the palm of one's hand. Formal; everyday equivalents: «evidente», «clarísimo».
immeasurable; vast
Su muerte dejó un vacío inconmensurable en la vida cultural de la ciudad.
Her death left an immeasurable void in the city's cultural life.
Usage note Too great to measure; in philosophy, lacking a common measure. Often hyperbolic in praise or grief.
spurious; illegitimate
La campaña se apoyaba en estadísticas de origen espurio que nadie pudo verificar.
The campaign relied on statistics of spurious origin that nobody could verify.
Usage note False or illegitimate: «intereses espurios» (ulterior motives). Beware the misspelling «espúreo».
substantial; meaty; weighty
Fue un ensayo breve pero enjundioso, lleno de ideas que merecían otro libro.
It was a short but meaty essay, full of ideas that deserved a book of their own.
Usage note Full of substance. From «enjundia» (substance, depth): «un tema con mucha enjundia».
Recognize the elegant words of essays, novels and serious journalism.
to sense; to have a hunch
Por el tono de la llamada, barrunté que la reunión del lunes acabaría mal.
From the tone of the call, I had a hunch that Monday's meeting would end badly.
Usage note Sensing something before having proof; also for weather: «barrunta tormenta». Noun: «el barrunto».
to show through; to become apparent
En cada línea de la carta se trasluce un resentimiento que nunca llegó a confesar.
In every line of the letter a resentment shows through that she never confessed.
Usage note Irregular like «lucir» (se trasluce). Also «dejar traslucir» (to let show).
to overlap; to cover up
Las dos reformas se solapan en varios puntos y generarán confusión administrativa.
The two reforms overlap on several points and will create administrative confusion.
Usage note Reflexive «solaparse» = to overlap. The adjective «solapado» means underhand or covert.
to subdue; to tame
Le costó años domeñar el miedo escénico que la paralizaba antes de cada concierto.
It took her years to master the stage fright that paralyzed her before every concert.
Usage note Literary: bringing a force or impulse under control. Everyday equivalents: «dominar», «controlar».
to wound with words; to taunt
El columnista zahería a sus adversarios con alusiones a su vida privada.
The columnist would needle his opponents with allusions to their private lives.
Usage note Stem-changing like «herir» (zahiero). Hurting through mockery or reproach. Literary register.
to retract; to go back on one's word
Ante las nuevas pruebas, el testigo se desdijo de su primera declaración.
Faced with the new evidence, the witness retracted his first statement.
Usage note Irregular like «decir». Pattern: «desdecirse de algo». Colloquial equivalent: «echarse atrás».
to temporize; to accommodate
El ministro contemporizó con ambas facciones para evitar una ruptura del gobierno.
The minister temporized with both factions to avoid a split in the government.
Usage note Adapting to others' views to avoid conflict, often to buy time. Slightly critical in political writing.
hindrance; drag
La burocracia obsoleta se ha convertido en una rémora para la innovación.
Outdated bureaucracy has become a drag on innovation.
Usage note Literally the remora fish that clings to sharks; figuratively, something that holds progress back.
stumbling block; obstacle
La financiación sigue siendo el principal escollo para aprobar el proyecto.
Funding remains the main stumbling block to approving the project.
Usage note Literally a submerged rock. «Salvar un escollo» means to overcome an obstacle.
predicament; situation
Se vio en la tesitura de elegir entre su carrera y el cuidado de su madre.
She found herself in the predicament of choosing between her career and caring for her mother.
Usage note A difficult situation requiring a decision: «en esta tesitura…». In music, a voice's range.
spur; incentive
La crítica negativa fue un acicate para reescribir el libro desde el principio.
The negative review was a spur to rewrite the book from the beginning.
Usage note Literally a spur for horses. Figuratively a stimulus: «servir de acicate».
glimmer; hint
El acusado no mostró ni un atisbo de arrepentimiento durante el juicio.
The defendant did not show a glimmer of remorse during the trial.
Usage note A faint sign: «un atisbo de esperanza». Verb: «atisbar» (to glimpse).
folly; blunder
Cerrar el hospital en plena epidemia habría sido un desatino imperdonable.
Closing the hospital in the middle of an epidemic would have been an unforgivable folly.
Usage note A serious lack of judgment. From «tino» (good aim, good sense): «tener buen tino».
pipe dream; fiction; abstraction
Sin presupuesto, el plan de vivienda no pasa de ser una entelequia.
Without a budget, the housing plan is nothing more than a pipe dream.
Usage note Originally an Aristotelian term; in everyday formal use, something that exists only in theory.
loophole; chink; glimmer
La ley deja un resquicio que algunas empresas aprovechan para no pagar impuestos.
The law leaves a loophole that some companies exploit to avoid paying taxes.
Usage note A narrow gap; figuratively a loophole or faint chance: «un resquicio de esperanza».
pipe dream; chimera
Pretender la unanimidad en un parlamento tan fragmentado es una quimera.
Expecting unanimity in such a fragmented parliament is a pipe dream.
Usage note Alluring but impossible idea; also the mythological monster. Adjective: «quimérico».
anxiety; unease
Las familias vivieron la noche con la zozobra de no saber nada de los mineros.
The families spent the night in anguish, knowing nothing about the miners.
Usage note Restless anxiety. From «zozobrar» (to capsize, to founder), also used for failing plans.
trivial; insignificant
No es una discrepancia baladí, sino una diferencia de principios.
It is not a trivial disagreement but a difference of principle.
Usage note Usually in the negative: «no es un asunto baladí». Plural «baladíes» (rare).
fateful; ill-fated
Aquel día aciago de noviembre cambió para siempre la historia del pueblo.
That fateful November day changed the town's history forever.
Usage note Associated with misfortune. Literary; usually before the noun: «una noche aciaga».
everlasting; eternal
El sempiterno debate sobre la reforma horaria reaparece cada otoño.
The everlasting debate about changing the clocks resurfaces every autumn.
Usage note Literally eternal; very often ironic for things that never go away.
ominous; abominable
Un silencio ominoso siguió al anuncio del cierre de la planta.
An ominous silence followed the announcement of the plant's closure.
Usage note In modern use, threatening like the English word; traditionally it meant abominable, as in «la década ominosa».
inextricable
En su obra, memoria e identidad aparecen como realidades inextricables.
In her work, memory and identity appear as inextricable realities.
Usage note Too tangled to separate or solve. Formal; «indisociable» is a close synonym.
Express precise attitudes and actions that educated speakers use every day in conversation and the press.
to skimp on; to spare
La organización no escatimó esfuerzos para que la cumbre saliera a la perfección.
The organizers spared no effort to make the summit go perfectly.
Usage note Very often negative: «no escatimar esfuerzos, medios, elogios». Means giving as little as possible.
to attribute; to blame on
El gobierno achacó el retraso de las obras a la subida de los materiales.
The government blamed the delay in the works on the rise in material costs.
Usage note Pattern: «achacar algo a algo/alguien», usually a fault or problem. Noun «el achaque» is an ailment.
to bear; to cope with
Sus amigos la ayudaron a sobrellevar los meses más duros del tratamiento.
Her friends helped her get through the hardest months of the treatment.
Usage note Enduring hardship with patience: «sobrellevar una enfermedad, una pérdida». Regular verb.
to avoid; to shy away from
El candidato rehuyó el debate cara a cara durante toda la campaña.
The candidate avoided the head-to-head debate throughout the campaign.
Usage note Accent on ú: rehúyo, rehúye. Avoiding out of fear or reluctance: «rehuir la mirada, el compromiso».
to wash one's hands of; to ignore
La empresa se desentendió de los trabajadores en cuanto terminó la obra.
The company washed its hands of the workers as soon as the job was finished.
Usage note Pattern: «desentenderse de algo». «Hacerse el desentendido» means to pretend not to notice.
to gloat; to take delight in
Algunos medios se regodearon en los detalles más morbosos del crimen.
Some media outlets wallowed in the most morbid details of the crime.
Usage note Taking perverse or excessive pleasure: «regodearse en el sufrimiento ajeno». Usually critical.
to be merciless; to vent one's fury on
La prensa se ensañó con el entrenador tras la tercera derrota consecutiva.
The press laid into the coach mercilessly after the third consecutive defeat.
Usage note Pattern: «ensañarse con alguien». In law, «ensañamiento» is cruelty, an aggravating circumstance.
to be daunted; to lose heart
Lejos de amilanarse, la periodista siguió investigando pese a las amenazas.
Far from being daunted, the journalist kept investigating despite the threats.
Usage note Very often negative: «no se amilanó». Near-synonyms: «acobardarse», «arredrarse».
to insist stubbornly; to dig one's heels in
Se empecinó en terminar la obra él solo y tardó el doble de lo previsto.
He dug his heels in about finishing the job alone and took twice as long as planned.
Usage note Pattern: «empecinarse en + infinitive/noun». Stronger than «empeñarse». Adjective: «empecinado».
to snub; to belittle; to ignore
Durante años, la academia ninguneó a las escritoras que publicaban en revistas populares.
For years, the academy snubbed women writers who published in popular magazines.
Usage note Colloquial-standard: treating someone as a nobody («ninguno»). Very common in Mexico and Spain.
to overwhelm; to crush
El equipo local apabulló a su rival con cuatro goles en la primera parte.
The home team crushed their rivals with four goals in the first half.
Usage note Overwhelming someone by force, data or confidence: «datos apabullantes». Colloquial-neutral.
to incite; to egg on; to set on
Algunos dirigentes azuzaron a sus seguidores contra los periodistas presentes.
Some leaders incited their followers against the journalists present.
Usage note Originally setting a dog on someone; now stirring up anger or conflict. Spelling: azucé.
to rouse; to incense
La subida de las tarifas soliviantó a los vecinos, que cortaron la carretera.
The fare increase incensed residents, who blocked the road.
Usage note Stirring someone to indignation or rebellion. Also reflexive: «los ánimos se soliviantaron».
to wheedle out; to worm out
El periodista intentó sonsacarle el nombre de su fuente durante toda la cena.
The journalist tried to worm the name of her source out of her all through dinner.
Usage note Getting information through cunning or persistence: «sonsacar algo a alguien».
to con; to hoodwink
El falso asesor embaucó a decenas de jubilados con promesas de rentabilidad segura.
The fake adviser conned dozens of pensioners with promises of guaranteed returns.
Usage note Deceiving the naive. Person: «el embaucador». Near-synonyms: «engatusar», «estafar» (legal).
to learn one's lesson; to teach a lesson
Después de perder la fianza dos veces, escarmentó y empezó a leer los contratos.
After losing the deposit twice, he learned his lesson and started reading contracts.
Usage note Stem-changing (escarmiento). Proverb: «nadie escarmienta en cabeza ajena». Noun: «el escarmiento».
to disrupt; to upset (plans)
La tormenta trastocó los planes de miles de viajeros en pleno puente festivo.
The storm disrupted the plans of thousands of travelers in the middle of the long weekend.
Usage note Upsetting order or plans. RAE accepts both «trastoco» and «trastueco». Close to «trastornar».
to ruin; to thwart
Un error arbitral malogró la remontada que el equipo había construido con tanto esfuerzo.
A refereeing error ruined the comeback the team had built with so much effort.
Usage note «Malograrse» means to fail or come to nothing; in Peru, also for a device breaking down.
persistent; stubborn
Una sequía pertinaz ha dejado los embalses por debajo del veinte por ciento.
A persistent drought has left the reservoirs below twenty percent.
Usage note Used for weather, illness and attitudes: «una tos pertinaz». Plural «pertinaces».
outlandish; far-fetched
Nos presentó una excusa tan peregrina que nadie en la sala pudo contener la risa.
He gave us such a far-fetched excuse that no one in the room could keep a straight face.
Usage note As a noun, a pilgrim; as an adjective before the noun, strange or absurd: «una idea peregrina».
meager; scant
Con un presupuesto tan exiguo, la biblioteca apenas puede comprar libros nuevos.
With such a meager budget, the library can barely buy new books.
Usage note Insufficiently small: «una mayoría exigua», «un sueldo exiguo». Formal register.
stagnant; ossified
Los críticos describen una universidad anquilosada, incapaz de adaptarse al nuevo mercado laboral.
Critics describe an ossified university, unable to adapt to the new job market.
Usage note Literally stiff-jointed; figuratively, frozen and unable to evolve. Verb: «anquilosarse».
motley; cluttered
El mercado ofrecía un espectáculo abigarrado de colores, voces y olores.
The market offered a motley spectacle of colors, voices and smells.
Usage note A dense, varied mix, sometimes chaotic. Used for crowds, decoration and prose style.
determination; eagerness
Estudió con tal ahínco que aprobó las oposiciones al primer intento.
She studied with such determination that she passed the civil-service exams at the first attempt.
Usage note Almost always «con ahínco»: working, studying or defending something with great effort.
Master vivid idioms that educated speakers drop into debate, gossip and journalism.
never to do anything without an ulterior motive
Ese político no da puntada sin hilo: si invita a la prensa, algo busca.
That politician never does anything without an ulterior motive: if he invites the press, he's after something.
Usage note From sewing: no stitch without thread. Implies calculation behind every act. Understood across the Spanish-speaking world.
to carry the day; to come out on top
Tras meses de pulso con el ayuntamiento, la asociación vecinal se llevó el gato al agua.
After months of struggle with the city council, the residents' association carried the day.
Usage note Winning a contested matter. Mainly Spain; «salirse con la suya» is a pan-Hispanic alternative.
to dodge the question
Cuando le preguntaron por los contratos, el consejero salió por la tangente.
When asked about the contracts, the minister dodged the question.
Usage note Evading a direct answer. Very common in political interviews across the Spanish-speaking world.
to have it both ways
Pretende nadar y guardar la ropa: apoyar la reforma sin pagar su coste político.
He wants to have it both ways: backing the reform without paying its political cost.
Usage note Seeking a benefit while avoiding all risk. Typical of opinion columns.
not to mince one's words
La científica no tiene pelos en la lengua cuando denuncia las malas prácticas del sector.
The scientist doesn't mince her words when she denounces bad practices in the industry.
Usage note Speaking with total frankness. Neutral-colloquial and pan-Hispanic.
to turn things to one's own advantage
Cada partido intentó llevar agua a su molino con los datos del paro.
Each party tried to turn the unemployment figures to its own advantage.
Usage note The possessive changes: «llevar agua a mi/tu/su molino». Also «arrimar el ascua a su sardina» in Spain.
to throw up one's hands in horror
Los mismos que toleraron el abuso durante años ahora se rasgan las vestiduras.
The same people who tolerated the abuse for years are now throwing up their hands in horror.
Usage note Biblical origin; usually ironic about exaggerated or hypocritical outrage.
to wipe the slate clean
El nuevo director hizo tabla rasa y cambió a todo el equipo en una semana.
The new director wiped the slate clean and replaced the entire team in a week.
Usage note Disregarding everything that came before; «hacer tabla rasa de algo». From the Latin «tabula rasa».
to give free rein; to give carte blanche
El consejo le dio carta blanca para reorganizar el departamento como quisiera.
The board gave her free rein to reorganize the department however she wanted.
Usage note Granting full freedom to decide. Also «tener carta blanca». Pan-Hispanic.
to cover oneself; to take precautions
Se curó en salud y dejó por escrito todas sus dudas sobre el proyecto.
She covered herself by putting all her doubts about the project in writing.
Usage note Anticipating criticism or trouble before it happens. Often self-protective, sometimes defensive.
to apply a sticking plaster; to paper over the cracks
Poner paños calientes ya no basta: el sistema necesita una reforma profunda.
Papering over the cracks is no longer enough: the system needs a thorough reform.
Usage note Temporary remedies that avoid the real problem. Mainly Spain.
to get into needless trouble
No te metas en camisa de once varas: esa pelea familiar no es asunto tuyo.
Don't go looking for trouble: that family fight is none of your business.
Usage note Getting involved in something complicated that doesn't concern you. Understood widely; most frequent in Spain.
to preach to deaf ears
Durante años, los expertos que alertaban de la burbuja predicaron en el desierto.
For years, the experts warning about the bubble were preaching to deaf ears.
Usage note Giving advice nobody heeds. Pan-Hispanic; «como quien oye llover» describes the listeners.
to swallow a far-fetched story
No pienso comulgar con ruedas de molino: esas cifras no cuadran por ningún lado.
I'm not going to swallow that: those figures don't add up at all.
Usage note Believing something absurd. Mainly Spain; in Latin America «tragarse el cuento» is more common.
to take the rap; to pay for others' mistakes
Como siempre, los trabajadores acabaron pagando el pato por los errores de la dirección.
As usual, the workers ended up taking the rap for management's mistakes.
Usage note Suffering the consequences of what others did. Colloquial; «pagar los platos rotos» is a pan-Hispanic synonym.
to con someone; to pass off something inferior
La publicidad prometía un hotel de lujo, pero nos dieron gato por liebre.
The ad promised a luxury hotel, but they sold us a pup.
Usage note Deceiving by substituting something worse. Understood throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
to try to stop the unstoppable
Prohibir las descargas en internet es como intentar poner puertas al campo.
Banning downloads on the internet is like trying to hold back the tide.
Usage note A futile attempt to control something boundless. Mainly Spain.
to rest on one's laurels
La empresa lidera el sector, pero no puede dormirse en los laureles.
The company leads the sector, but it cannot rest on its laurels.
Usage note Stopping effort after success. Direct equivalent of the English idiom; pan-Hispanic.
to add fuel to the fire
Las declaraciones del portavoz no hicieron más que echar leña al fuego.
The spokesman's statements only added fuel to the fire.
Usage note Worsening a conflict. Pan-Hispanic. Its opposite is «echar agua al fuego» or «calmar los ánimos».
to perform a delicate balancing act
El gobierno tuvo que hacer encaje de bolillos para aprobar los presupuestos.
The government had to perform a delicate balancing act to pass the budget.
Usage note From bobbin lace: extremely intricate work. Mainly Spain.
to go all out; to pull out all the stops
En la última semana de campaña, el partido puso toda la carne en el asador.
In the last week of the campaign, the party pulled out all the stops.
Usage note Committing every resource at once. Also «echar toda la carne en el asador».
to sell smoke; to make empty promises
Muchos expertos acusan a la startup de vender humo a sus inversores.
Many experts accuse the startup of selling its investors empty promises.
Usage note Promoting something with no substance. Very current in business and politics; «vendehúmos» is the person.
to stir up trouble and then deny it
Difundió el rumor y luego tiró la piedra y escondió la mano.
She spread the rumor and then acted as if she had nothing to do with it.
Usage note Provoking covertly and denying responsibility. Pan-Hispanic.
to go off on a tangent
Le pedimos una fecha concreta, pero se fue por los cerros de Úbeda.
We asked him for a specific date, but he went off on a tangent.
Usage note Úbeda is a town in Jaén. Mainly Spain; «irse por las ramas» is pan-Hispanic.
some people profit from chaos
A río revuelto, ganancia de pescadores: los especuladores se lanzaron a comprar durante el pánico.
Some people always profit from chaos: speculators rushed to buy during the panic.
Usage note Proverb: disorder benefits opportunists. Often shortened to «a río revuelto…». Pan-Hispanic.
Understand and use the informal expressions that near-native speakers use with friends, family and colleagues.
barely; with great difficulty
Con el sueldo que gana, llega a duras penas a final de mes.
With what she earns, she barely makes it to the end of the month.
Usage note Achieving something with great difficulty. Neutral-colloquial and pan-Hispanic.
all of a sudden; out of the blue
De buenas a primeras, nos dijo que dejaba el trabajo y se iba a vivir al campo.
Out of the blue, he told us he was quitting his job and moving to the country.
Usage note Suddenly and without warning. Also «a las primeras de cambio» (at the first opportunity).
so-so; nothing special
¿La película? Ni fu ni fa: bien hecha, pero se me olvidó al salir del cine.
The movie? So-so: well made, but I forgot it as soon as I left the theater.
Usage note Informal verdict of indifference. Works like an adjective or a reply. Pan-Hispanic.
with great difficulty; in fits and starts
Terminó la carrera a trancas y barrancas, trabajando de noche en un bar.
He finished his degree in fits and starts, working nights in a bar.
Usage note Overcoming obstacles, stopping and starting. Colloquial; «a trompicones» is a close synonym.
to be fed up; to have had it up to here
Estoy hasta la coronilla de reuniones que podrían haber sido un correo.
I've had it up to here with meetings that could have been an email.
Usage note «La coronilla» is the crown of the head. Pattern: «estar hasta la coronilla de algo». Pan-Hispanic.
to pretend not to understand; to play dumb
Cuando le pedí que pagara su parte, se hizo el sueco y cambió de tema.
When I asked him to pay his share, he played dumb and changed the subject.
Usage note Agrees in gender: «se hizo la sueca». Similar: «hacerse el tonto», «hacerse el loco» (Latin America).
to get one's own way
Protestó tanto que al final se salió con la suya y cambiaron el horario.
She complained so much that in the end she got her way and they changed the schedule.
Usage note The possessive changes: «me salí con la mía», «te saliste con la tuya». Pan-Hispanic.
to get everything wrong; not to get a thing right
Hoy no doy pie con bola: he perdido las llaves y me he equivocado de tren.
I can't get anything right today: I've lost my keys and got on the wrong train.
Usage note Making one mistake after another. Almost always in the negative. Pan-Hispanic.
to split hairs; to look for complications
No le busques tres pies al gato: el contrato dice exactamente lo que parece.
Don't go looking for complications: the contract says exactly what it seems to say.
Usage note Seeing problems or hidden meanings where there are none. Originally «cinco pies» (cats have four feet).
not to sleep a wink
Con el ruido de la obra, anoche no pegué ojo en toda la noche.
With the noise from the building work, I didn't sleep a wink last night.
Usage note Always negative. Very common; also «no pegar un ojo» in parts of Latin America.
to beat about the bush
No te andes con rodeos y dime de una vez qué ha pasado.
Stop beating about the bush and tell me once and for all what happened.
Usage note Irregular preterite: anduve. Opposite: «ir al grano». Also «andarse por las ramas».
blindly; unquestioningly
Mucha gente cree a pie juntillas todo lo que lee en las redes sociales.
Many people blindly believe everything they read on social media.
Usage note Almost always with «creer» or «seguir»: total, uncritical belief. Also «a pies juntillas».
for no reason; haphazardly
Empezó a gritar sin ton ni son y todos nos quedamos mirándolo.
He started shouting for no reason and we all just stared at him.
Usage note Without rhyme or reason. Pan-Hispanic, neutral-colloquial.
for certain; for sure
Nadie sabe a ciencia cierta cuántas personas viven en el asentamiento.
Nobody knows for certain how many people live in the settlement.
Usage note Almost always with «saber»; often in negative sentences. Neutral register, used in the press too.
second-rate; tacky; fake
Nos vendieron un reloj de pacotilla que dejó de funcionar a la semana.
They sold us a cheap, tacky watch that stopped working after a week.
Usage note Invariable adjective phrase after the noun: «un político de pacotilla» (a two-bit politician).
to turn a blind eye
Durante años, las autoridades hicieron la vista gorda ante las obras ilegales.
For years, the authorities turned a blind eye to the illegal building work.
Usage note Deliberately ignoring wrongdoing. Pan-Hispanic; usually «ante algo» or «con algo».
to stall; to put someone off
El casero lleva meses dándonos largas con la reparación de la calefacción.
The landlord has been stalling us for months over fixing the heating.
Usage note Postponing with excuses: «dar largas a alguien/algo». Also «dar largas al asunto».
to throw in someone's face; to reproach
Siempre me echa en cara que no fui a su boda hace diez años.
She always throws it in my face that I didn't go to her wedding ten years ago.
Usage note Reproaching someone for a favor or past fault: «echarle algo en cara a alguien». Pan-Hispanic.
to be in decline; to be down in the dumps
El pequeño comercio del centro está de capa caída desde que abrieron el centro comercial.
Small shops in the center have been in decline since the mall opened.
Usage note For people (low mood) or businesses and trends (declining). Neutral-colloquial.
to be a different kettle of fish
Arreglar el grifo es fácil; cambiar toda la instalación es harina de otro costal.
Fixing the tap is easy; replacing all the plumbing is a different kettle of fish.
Usage note Marking a separate, usually harder matter. Almost always third person. Pan-Hispanic.
to have nothing to do with it
Yo no tuve arte ni parte en esa decisión, así que no me pidas explicaciones.
I had nothing whatsoever to do with that decision, so don't ask me to explain it.
Usage note Denying any involvement: «no tener arte ni parte en algo». Emphatic, colloquial.
haphazardly; any old how
Organizaron el viaje a la buena de Dios, sin reservas ni itinerario.
They organized the trip any old how, with no bookings or itinerary.
Usage note Without planning, trusting to luck. Neutral-colloquial and pan-Hispanic.
to cut one's losses; to take drastic action
Harta de discusiones, decidió cortar por lo sano y cambiar de socio.
Fed up with arguments, she decided to cut her losses and change partners.
Usage note Solving a problem decisively, even at a cost. From surgery: cutting at the healthy tissue.
to throw away; to squander
No quiero tirar por la borda cinco años de trabajo por una discusión.
I don't want to throw away five years of work over an argument.
Usage note Literally to throw overboard. Wasting an opportunity, effort or achievement. Pan-Hispanic.
to be on duty; to stay at one's post
A sus ochenta años, sigue al pie del cañón en la panadería familiar.
At eighty, she is still at her post in the family bakery.
Usage note Staying ready and working despite difficulty or age. Admiring tone. Pan-Hispanic.
Link and qualify ideas with the refined connectors of legal, academic and literary prose.
besides; in addition to
La medida es costosa, amén de difícil de aplicar en las zonas rurales.
The measure is costly, besides being difficult to apply in rural areas.
Usage note Formal additive; also «amén de que» + clause. «Decir amén a todo» means to agree with everything.
especially since; all the more so when
La decisión resulta incomprensible, máxime cuando nadie se molestó en justificarla.
The decision is incomprehensible, all the more so since nobody bothered to justify it.
Usage note Adds a reason that strengthens the claim. Also «máxime si». Formal.
on pain of; under penalty of
Los testigos deben comparecer el lunes, so pena de una multa considerable.
The witnesses must appear on Monday, on pain of a considerable fine.
Usage note Introduces the sanction for noncompliance. Legal and formal; «so» is an old form of «bajo».
given that; since
El caso quedó archivado, toda vez que no existían pruebas válidas contra el acusado.
The case was closed, given that there was no valid evidence against the defendant.
Usage note Formal causal connector, very frequent in legal writing. It can also mean «every time that».
inasmuch as; since
La solicitud no puede admitirse, por cuanto incumple dos requisitos esenciales.
The application cannot be accepted, inasmuch as it fails to meet two essential requirements.
Usage note Introduces grounds in formal argument. Not to be confused with «por cuanto a» (dated) or «en cuanto a».
for the sake of; in the interest of
Ambas partes cedieron en aras de un acuerdo que evitara la huelga.
Both sides gave ground for the sake of an agreement that would avert the strike.
Usage note Presents a higher goal that justifies a sacrifice: «en aras de la paz, de la transparencia».
in light of; according to
A tenor de los datos disponibles, conviene revisar a la baja la previsión de crecimiento.
In light of the available data, the growth forecast should be revised downward.
Usage note Formal reference to evidence or wording: «a tenor de lo dispuesto en el artículo 5».
at the expense of
La cadena creció a expensas de los pequeños proveedores, que vieron caer sus márgenes.
The chain grew at the expense of small suppliers, who saw their margins fall.
Usage note Marks who bears the cost: «vivir a expensas de sus padres». Close to «a costa de».
by virtue of; under
Fue readmitida en su puesto en virtud de una sentencia del tribunal laboral.
She was reinstated under a ruling by the labor court.
Usage note Grounds an action in a rule, authority or agreement. Very frequent in legal and administrative texts.
in the absence of; for lack of
A falta de consenso entre los grupos, será el pleno quien decida.
In the absence of consensus between the groups, the full chamber will decide.
Usage note Introduces what is missing. «A falta de pan, buenas son tortas» (beggars can't be choosers).
to the detriment of
La reducción de costes no puede hacerse en detrimento de la seguridad de los pasajeros.
Cost cutting cannot be done to the detriment of passenger safety.
Usage note Marks the interest that is harmed. Formal; everyday alternative: «perjudicando a».
without prejudice to; notwithstanding
El acuerdo se aplicará sin perjuicio de las reclamaciones que puedan presentarse después.
The agreement will apply without prejudice to any claims that may be filed later.
Usage note Legal formula preserving other rights or measures. Also «sin perjuicio de que» + subjunctive.
in the end; ultimately
A la postre, aquella solución provisional acabó durando más de veinte años.
In the end, that temporary solution ended up lasting more than twenty years.
Usage note Literary marker of the eventual outcome, often ironic. Neutral alternative: «al final».
clearly; by any standard
La excusa del alcalde era, a todas luces, inverosímil.
The mayor's excuse was, by any standard, implausible.
Usage note Presents something as evident to everyone. Formal but common in opinion pieces.
quite simply; plainly
El portavoz negó lisa y llanamente haber recibido dinero de la constructora.
The spokesman flatly denied having received money from the construction company.
Usage note Emphatic «simply, with no nuance». Pattern: adverb pair modifying a verb or statement.
needless to say
Huelga decir que una acusación tan grave exige pruebas sólidas.
Needless to say, such a serious accusation requires solid evidence.
Usage note From «holgar» (to be unnecessary). Usually «huelga decir que…». Formal written style.
with this caveat; this caveat aside
Valga esta salvedad: todavía faltan dos informes periciales por entregar.
With this caveat: two expert reports are still to be submitted.
Usage note Flags a deliberate qualification. Also «valga la redundancia» (pardon the redundancy).
be that as it may
Sea como fuere, el plazo ya ha vencido y hay que tomar una decisión.
Be that as it may, the deadline has passed and a decision must be made.
Usage note Uses the future subjunctive («fuere»), which survives only in fixed phrases and legal texts.
incidentally; by the way
Dicho sea de paso, nadie consultó a los vecinos antes de aprobar el proyecto.
Incidentally, nobody consulted the residents before approving the project.
Usage note Introduces a parenthetical but pointed remark. Formal-neutral; «por cierto» is the everyday version.
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Society, ethics, and exclusion
Name forms of discrimination, abuse and injustice discussed in contemporary public debate.
instrumentalizar
to exploit (for one's ends); to instrumentalize
Ningún partido debería instrumentalizar el dolor de las familias para ganar votos.
No party should exploit the families' pain to win votes.
Usage note A frequent accusation in politics: using people or causes as mere tools.
mercantilizar
to commodify
Las redes sociales han mercantilizado incluso nuestras relaciones más íntimas.
Social media has commodified even our most intimate relationships.
Usage note Turning into a commodity governed by the market: «mercantilizar la sanidad, la educación».
invisibilizar
to render invisible; to erase from view
Los libros de texto invisibilizaron durante décadas el trabajo de las científicas.
For decades, textbooks rendered the work of women scientists invisible.
Usage note Common in social-justice discourse; some purists dislike it, but it is now standard.
deslegitimar
to delegitimize
Los ataques personales buscaban deslegitimar al tribunal antes de que dictara sentencia.
The personal attacks sought to delegitimize the court before it handed down its ruling.
Usage note Attacking the legitimacy, not just the decisions, of a person or institution.
soslayar
to sidestep; to skirt around
El informe soslaya el impacto que tendrá la medida sobre los hogares más pobres.
The report skirts around the impact the measure will have on the poorest households.
Usage note Avoiding an issue indirectly. «De soslayo» means sideways, askance: «mirar de soslayo».
menospreciar
to belittle; to underestimate
Durante años se menospreció el conocimiento agrícola de las comunidades indígenas.
For years, the farming knowledge of Indigenous communities was belittled.
Usage note Both disdain and underestimation: «no menosprecies al rival». Noun: «el menosprecio».
avasallar
to ride roughshod over; to overwhelm
Una mayoría absoluta no autoriza a avasallar a las minorías en nombre de la eficacia.
An absolute majority does not entitle anyone to ride roughshod over minorities in the name of efficiency.
Usage note From «vasallo»: subjugating through power. In sport, «un triunfo avasallador» is an overwhelming win.
expoliar
to plunder; to despoil
Durante siglos, las potencias coloniales expoliaron minerales y obras de arte del continente.
For centuries, colonial powers plundered the continent's minerals and works of art.
Usage note Violent or unjust dispossession. Noun: «el expolio», also used for looting of heritage.
resarcir
to compensate; to make amends
El Estado deberá resarcir a quienes fueron despojados injustamente de sus tierras.
The state must compensate those who were unjustly stripped of their land.
Usage note Repairing harm: «resarcir a alguien de/por un daño». Spelling: resarzo. «Resarcirse» means to make up for a loss.
recriminar
to reproach
Sus compañeros le recriminaron que guardara silencio cuando todavía podía intervenir.
His colleagues reproached him for keeping quiet when he could still have intervened.
Usage note Pattern: «recriminar algo a alguien» or «recriminarle que + subjunctive». Stronger than «reprochar».
el agravio comparativo
unfair disparity; unequal treatment
La exención fiscal para un solo sector generó un agravio comparativo con el resto.
The tax exemption for a single sector created an unfair disparity with everyone else.
Usage note Frequent in Spanish politics when one region or group gets better treatment than comparable ones.
la otredad
otherness
La novela explora la otredad sin convertir a los inmigrantes en figuras exóticas.
The novel explores otherness without turning immigrants into exotic figures.
Usage note Literary and philosophical near-synonym of «alteridad» (C1), popularized by Octavio Paz.
la aporofobia
aporophobia; hostility toward poor people
Rechazar al extranjero rico y no al pobre revela aporofobia más que xenofobia.
Rejecting the poor foreigner but not the rich one reveals aporophobia more than xenophobia.
Usage note Coined by philosopher Adela Cortina; word of the year in Spain in 2017 and now in the dictionary.
el edadismo
ageism
El anuncio reproduce un edadismo sutil al asociar la vejez con la torpeza tecnológica.
The advertisement reproduces subtle ageism by associating old age with technological clumsiness.
Usage note Discrimination by age. Also «viejismo» in parts of Latin America.
el capacitismo
ableism
La falta de rampas en la facultad es una muestra cotidiana de capacitismo.
The lack of ramps in the faculty building is an everyday example of ableism.
Usage note Discrimination against disabled people. Adjective: «capacitista».
la gentrificación
gentrification
La gentrificación expulsó del barrio a muchos de sus vecinos de toda la vida.
Gentrification pushed many lifelong residents out of the neighborhood.
Usage note Borrowed from English and fully established. Verb: «gentrificar»; related: «turistificación».
el clientelismo
clientelism; patronage politics
El clientelismo local intercambiaba empleos públicos por lealtad electoral.
Local clientelism traded public jobs for electoral loyalty.
Usage note Political support exchanged for favors. Common in analysis of Latin American and Southern European politics.
el nepotismo
nepotism
Las nuevas normas pretenden acabar con el nepotismo en la contratación universitaria.
The new rules aim to end nepotism in university hiring.
Usage note Favoring relatives for posts. Colloquially, «enchufismo» (Spain) or «palanca» (Venezuela, Colombia).
la cooptación
co-optation
La cooptación de sus líderes más críticos debilitó la independencia del movimiento.
The co-optation of its most critical leaders weakened the movement's independence.
Usage note Absorbing opponents into a structure to neutralize them; also appointing members without election.
el proselitismo
proselytism; recruiting
El reglamento prohíbe hacer proselitismo político dentro de las aulas.
The regulations prohibit political proselytizing inside classrooms.
Usage note Actively recruiting followers to a religion, party or cause: «hacer proselitismo».
la disidencia
dissent; dissidents
El régimen trató a toda la disidencia como una amenaza para la seguridad nacional.
The regime treated all dissent as a threat to national security.
Usage note Both the act of dissenting and, collectively, the dissidents themselves. Person: «el/la disidente».
la ignominia
ignominy; disgrace
Aquellas deportaciones quedaron en la memoria colectiva como una ignominia nacional.
Those deportations remained in collective memory as a national disgrace.
Usage note Public dishonor or a deeply shameful act. Literary and emphatic; adjective «ignominioso».
la inequidad
inequity; injustice
La reforma agraria intentó corregir una inequidad histórica en el reparto de la tierra.
The land reform tried to correct a historic inequity in land distribution.
Usage note Unfair inequality, stressing injustice more than «desigualdad». Very frequent in Latin American policy texts.
la indefensión
defenselessness; lack of legal protection
Sin asistencia jurídica, los inquilinos quedaron en una situación de total indefensión.
Without legal assistance, the tenants were left completely defenseless.
Usage note Legal and social term: «causar indefensión», «indefensión aprendida» (learned helplessness).