acuerdo
Lemma Details
Translation: agreement; accord; understanding; resolution; deal; settlement
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Old Spanish 'acordar' (to agree), which comes from Latin 'accordare', formed from 'ad-' (to) + 'cor, cordis' (heart). The etymology reflects the idea of bringing hearts together in harmony or agreement. The English cognate 'accord' shares this same Latin root, as does 'cordial' (heartfelt). The connection to 'heart' (cor) emphasizes that true agreement involves emotional alignment, not just intellectual assent.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Firmaron un acuerdo de paz después de años de conflicto.
They signed a peace agreement after years of conflict.
Estoy de acuerdo con tu opinión.
I agree with your opinion.
Llegamos a un acuerdo sobre el precio de la casa.
We reached an agreement on the price of the house.
El acuerdo comercial beneficiará a ambos países.
The trade agreement will benefit both countries.
Por acuerdo mutuo, decidieron terminar el contrato.
By mutual agreement, they decided to terminate the contract.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'a + chord' (musical harmony) to remember 'acuerdo' means an agreement or harmony between parties.
- Remember 'accord' in English, which sounds similar and has the same meaning.
- Think of bringing hearts together (cor = heart in Latin) to reach an agreement.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, 'acuerdo' is frequently used in political, business, and legal contexts. The phrase 'de acuerdo' is extremely common in everyday conversation as a way to express agreement or acknowledgment, similar to saying 'okay' or 'agreed' in English.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Acuerdo' means 'agreement' while 'recuerdo' means 'memory' or 'souvenir'. They look and sound similar but have different meanings and uses.
Confused word:
Tengo un buen recuerdo de mi viaje a España.
I have a good memory of my trip to Spain.
Notes: Both words share the same Latin root 'cor' (heart), but with different prefixes that change their meanings.
Mnemonic: 'A-cuerdo' starts with 'A' for Agreement; 'Re-cuerdo' starts with 'Re' for Remember or Recollection.
Explanation: 'Acuerdo' is a noun meaning 'agreement', while 'cuerdo' is an adjective meaning 'sane' or 'sensible'.
Confused word:
Después del accidente, el médico confirmó que estaba cuerdo.
After the accident, the doctor confirmed he was sane.
Notes: 'Acuerdo' has the prefix 'a-' added to the root 'cuerdo', changing both the part of speech and meaning.
Mnemonic: Think of 'cuerdo' as someone with a sound heart/mind, while 'acuerdo' is when hearts/minds come together.