presidencia
Lemma Details
Translation: presidency; chairmanship; leadership; office of the president
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: Derived from the Latin 'praesidentia', from 'praesidere' meaning 'to preside over', which comes from 'prae' (before) + 'sedere' (to sit). The English cognate 'presidency' follows the same Latin root. The word evolved to describe the office, term, or authority of a president, as well as the physical headquarters where presidential functions are carried out.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 90%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Durante su presidencia, implementó varias reformas económicas.
During his presidency, he implemented several economic reforms.
España asumirá la presidencia de la Unión Europea el próximo año.
Spain will assume the presidency of the European Union next year.
La presidencia emitió un comunicado oficial esta mañana.
The president's office issued an official statement this morning.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'preside' + '-encia' (a common Spanish noun ending that indicates state or condition).
- Visualize someone sitting ('sedere' in Latin) at the head of a table, presiding over a meeting.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, 'la presidencia' often refers not only to the office but also to the physical building where the president works. In Spain, 'La Moncloa' is often used as a metonym for the presidency, similar to how 'The White House' is used in the United States. In Latin American countries, presidential systems are common, making this term frequently used in political discourse.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Presidencia' refers to the office or term of a president, while 'residencia' means 'residence' or 'home'.
This word:
La presidencia anunció nuevas medidas económicas.
The presidency announced new economic measures.
Notes: The difference is just one letter ('p'), but the meanings are completely different. 'Presidencia' is related to leadership and governance, while 'residencia' is related to dwelling and accommodation.
Mnemonic: 'Presidencia' starts with 'P' for 'power' or 'politics', while 'residencia' starts with 'R' for 'reside' or 'rest'.
Explanation: 'Presidencia' refers to the office of a president, while 'precedencia' means 'precedence' or 'priority'.
Confused word:
La precedencia de los invitados fue determinada por protocolo.
The precedence of the guests was determined by protocol.
Notes: Both terms can appear in formal or official contexts, which may contribute to confusion.
Mnemonic: Think of 'precedencia' as what comes before (precedes) in order or rank, while 'presidencia' is about who presides over.