parcial
Lemma Details
Translation: partial; biased; incomplete; unfair; midterm exam
Part of Speech: adjective
Etymology: From Latin 'partialis', derived from 'pars, partis' meaning 'part'. The English cognate 'partial' shares the same Latin root. The academic meaning of 'midterm exam' evolved from the concept of a test covering only part of a course's material.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 90%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El juez debe ser imparcial, no parcial.
The judge must be impartial, not biased.
Solo tengo una visión parcial del problema.
I only have a partial view of the problem.
Tengo un parcial de matemáticas mañana.
I have a math midterm exam tomorrow.
La recuperación del paciente fue parcial.
The patient's recovery was partial.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'partial' in English - it sounds almost identical and has the same meaning of 'incomplete'
- For the exam meaning, remember that a 'parcial' only tests part of the course material, not all of it
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In academic contexts throughout Latin America and Spain, 'parcial' is commonly used as a noun to refer to midterm exams. Students often talk about 'los parciales' when referring to their midterm examination period.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'parcial' means biased or showing favoritism, 'imparcial' means the opposite - unbiased, fair, neutral.
Confused word:
El árbitro fue imparcial durante todo el partido.
The referee was impartial throughout the match.
Notes: In judicial or competitive contexts, being 'parcial' is generally considered negative, while being 'imparcial' is positive and desirable.
Mnemonic: Remember that the prefix 'im-' negates the meaning, so 'imparcial' is the opposite of 'parcial'.
Explanation: 'Parcial' is an adjective meaning 'partial' or 'biased', while 'parcela' is a noun meaning 'plot of land' or 'parcel'.
Confused word:
Compraron una parcela para construir su casa.
They bought a plot of land to build their house.
Notes: Both words share the Latin root 'pars' (part), but have evolved to have distinct meanings and uses.
Mnemonic: Think of 'parcela' as a 'parcel' of land - a concrete noun, while 'parcial' is an abstract concept of bias or incompleteness.