This document lists political words in Spanish organized by category, including brief explanations. You can use these to build your Spanish vocabulary and improve your ability to talk about politics and government.
Parties & Ideologies
These are words for political parties and ideologies that describe different beliefs and movements within politics.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Example Spanish | Example English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| partido político | partidos políticos | political party | political parties | El partido político ganó las elecciones. | The political party won the elections. |
| izquierda | - | left | - | La izquierda defiende la igualdad social. | The left defends social equality. |
| derecha | - | right | - | La derecha apoya el libre mercado. | The right supports the free market. |
| centro | - | center | - | El partido de centro busca diálogo. | The center party seeks dialogue. |
| socialista | socialistas | socialist | socialists | Los socialistas proponen más servicios públicos. | The socialists propose more public services. |
| conservador(a) | conservadores/as | conservative | conservatives | Los conservadores quieren mantener tradiciones. | Conservatives want to maintain traditions. |
| liberal | liberales | liberal | liberals | Los liberales defienden las libertades individuales. | Liberals defend individual freedoms. |
| comunista | comunistas | communist | communists | El partido comunista tiene poca representación. | The communist party has little representation. |
| ecologista | ecologistas | environmentalist | environmentalists | Los ecologistas luchan contra el cambio climático. | Environmentalists fight against climate change. |
| populista | populistas | populist | populists | El líder populista usa un discurso contundente. | The populist leader uses a strong speech. |
Government & Institutions
These are words for parts of the government and institutions involved in running a country.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Example Spanish | Example English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| gobierno | gobiernos | government | governments | El gobierno presentó un nuevo presupuesto. | The government presented a new budget. |
| presidente | presidentes | president | presidents | La presidenta viajará a Europa. | The president will travel to Europe. |
| ministro | ministros | minister | ministers | El ministro de Salud habló sobre la pandemia. | The Minister of Health spoke about the pandemic. |
| parlamento | parlamentos | parliament | parliaments | El parlamento aprobó la ley. | The parliament approved the law. |
| congreso | congresos | congress | congresses | El congreso debate reformas fiscales. | Congress debates tax reforms. |
| senador | senadores | senator | senators | Los senadores votaron por unanimidad. | The senators voted unanimously. |
| diputado | diputados | deputy / representative | deputies / representatives | Los diputados presentaron una moción. | The representatives introduced a motion. |
| alcalde | alcaldes | mayor | mayors | El alcalde inauguró un parque. | The mayor inaugurated a park. |
| tribunal | tribunales | court | courts | El tribunal dictó una sentencia histórica. | The court issued a historic ruling. |
| juez | jueces | judge | judges | La juez revisa casos de corrupción. | The judge reviews corruption cases. |
Voting & Elections
These are words related to the processes of voting and elections.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Example Spanish | Example English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| elección | elecciones | election | elections | Las elecciones serán en noviembre. | The elections will be in November. |
| voto | votos | vote | votes | Cada ciudadano tiene un voto. | Every citizen has one vote. |
| candidato | candidatos | candidate | candidates | El candidato visitó varias ciudades. | The candidate visited several cities. |
| campaña | campañas | campaign | campaigns | La campaña electoral duró tres meses. | The electoral campaign lasted three months. |
| urna | urnas | ballot box | ballot boxes | Depositaron los votos en la urna. | They deposited the votes in the ballot box. |
| mesa electoral | mesas electorales | polling station | polling stations | La mesa electoral abrió a las ocho. | The polling station opened at eight. |
| abstención | - | abstention | - | La abstención fue del 20%. | The abstention was 20%. |
| escrutinio | - | counting | - | El escrutinio aún no termina. | The counting is not finished yet. |
| ganador | ganadores | winner | winners | El ganador habló ante sus seguidores. | The winner spoke to his supporters. |
| segunda vuelta | - | runoff | - | Habrá segunda vuelta electoral. | There will be a runoff election. |
Laws & Policies
These are words for laws, rules, and policies in the political system.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Example Spanish | Example English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ley | leyes | law | laws | La nueva ley fue aprobada ayer. | The new law was approved yesterday. |
| norma | normas | rule | rules | Las normas deben cumplirse. | The rules must be followed. |
| reforma | reformas | reform | reforms | Proponen una reforma educativa. | They propose an educational reform. |
| decreto | decretos | decree | decrees | El presidente firmó un decreto. | The president signed a decree. |
| política | políticas | policy | policies | La política ambiental es prioridad. | Environmental policy is a priority. |
| presupuesto | presupuestos | budget | budgets | El presupuesto aumenta la inversión. | The budget increases investment. |
| impuesto | impuestos | tax | taxes | Subieron el impuesto al consumo. | They raised the sales tax. |
| contrato | contratos | contract | contracts | Firmaron un contrato gubernamental. | They signed a government contract. |
| sanción | sanciones | sanction | sanctions | Impondrán sanciones a los responsables. | They will impose sanctions on those responsible. |
| regulación | regulaciones | regulation | regulations | Hay nuevas regulaciones financieras. | There are new financial regulations. |
The new law was approved yesterday.
La nueva ley fue aprobada ayer.
"Ley" means "law," a binding legal rule. While "norma" and "política" are related, the sentence specifically refers to a formal law.
Political Actions & Concepts
These are common verbs, nouns, and concepts used when talking about politics and political behavior.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Example Spanish | Example English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| poder | - | power | - | El poder está en manos del pueblo. | Power is in the hands of the people. |
| gobierno | gobiernos | government | governments | El gobierno negocia con otros países. | The government negotiates with other countries. |
| democracia | - | democracy | - | La democracia permite la participación. | Democracy allows participation. |
| dictadura | - | dictatorship | - | Vivieron bajo una dictadura. | They lived under a dictatorship. |
| votar | - | to vote | - | Voy a votar mañana. | I’m going to vote tomorrow. |
| elegir | - | to choose / elect | - | Elegirán un nuevo presidente. | They will elect a new president. |
| gobernar | - | to govern | - | Debemos aprender a gobernar con justicia. | We must learn to govern fairly. |
| negociar | - | to negotiate | - | Los partidos negocian acuerdos. | The parties negotiate agreements. |
| manifestar | - | to protest | - | Manifestaron contra la reforma. | They protested against the reform. |
| aprobar | - | to approve | - | El congreso aprobó el presupuesto. | Congress approved the budget. |
I’m going to vote tomorrow.
Voy a votar mañana.
"Votar" means "to vote," the act of casting a ballot. The sentence expresses the intention to vote.
Important Note
This list is not exhaustive but includes many of the most common political words you’ll encounter in Spanish. You can now use these categories to study and build your vocabulary.
Flashcards (1 of 50)
- English Singular: political party
- English Plural: political parties
- Example English: The political party won the elections.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
