estado
Lemma Details
Translation: state; condition; status; nation; government
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'status' meaning 'position, condition, arrangement'. The English words 'state', 'status', and 'estate' share this same Latin root. The evolution from Latin 'status' to Spanish 'estado' shows the typical phonological change where Latin 'st-' is preserved in Spanish, while the final '-us' changes to '-o' in masculine nouns.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 80%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El estado de la economía es preocupante.
The state of the economy is concerning.
México es un estado federal compuesto por 32 entidades.
Mexico is a federal state composed of 32 entities.
¿Cuál es tu estado civil?
What is your marital status?
El estado ha implementado nuevas políticas.
The government has implemented new policies.
Estoy en un buen estado de ánimo hoy.
I am in a good mood today.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'estate' in English, which relates to property and status - similar to how 'estado' can refer to a condition or status.
- Remember 'state' in English - both words start with 'est-' and refer to political entities.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, 'estado' is commonly used in political discourse to refer to the government or nation-state. In Mexico and other federal republics, 'estados' refers to the states or provinces that make up the country. The term also appears frequently in official documents when referring to one's status (marital, employment, etc.).
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Estado' means state or condition, while 'estadio' means stadium or stage (of development).
Confused word:
El partido se jugará en el estadio principal.
The match will be played in the main stadium.
Notes: Both words come from Latin roots but have evolved to have distinct meanings in modern Spanish.
Mnemonic: 'Estadio' ends with '-dio' like 'audio' - think of the sounds in a stadium. 'Estado' ends with '-do' like 'condition-do'.
Explanation: 'Estado' refers to a state or condition, while 'estada' means a stay or sojourn (though 'estancia' is more commonly used).
Notes: 'Estada' is less common in everyday speech than 'estado'.
Mnemonic: 'Estada' ends with '-a' like 'estancia' (stay), while 'estado' ends with '-o' like 'status quo'.