Political words in Spanish covering key terms from parties to government structures, plus example sentences for context.
This page covers essential vocabulary for discussing politics in Spanish, including words for parties, government roles, ideologies, elections, and more. Each section includes example sentences to show how the words are used in context.
Political Parties
Political parties are organizations that seek to influence government policy and leadership.
| Español (Singu./Plur.) | English (Singu./Plur.) | Ejemplo en Español | Example in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| partido / partidos | party / parties | Mi hermano es miembro del partido socialista. | My brother is a member of the socialist party. |
| coalición / coaliciones | coalition / coalitions | Las coaliciones pueden formar gobiernos juntos. | Coalitions can form governments together. |
| oposición / oposiciones | opposition / oppositions | La oposición criticó la nueva ley. | The opposition criticized the new law. |
| candidato / candidatos | candidate / candidates | Ella es candidata a la presidencia. | She is a candidate for the presidency. |
| votante / votantes | voter / voters | Los votantes eligieron un nuevo alcalde. | The voters elected a new mayor. |
La ___ criticó la nueva ley.
What is the Spanish word for 'opposition'?
oposición
'Oposición' means 'opposition'. 'Coalición' means 'coalition', 'protesta' means 'protest', and 'reforma' means 'reform'.
Government Roles
These terms describe common positions within government institutions.
| Español (Singu./Plur.) | English (Singu./Plur.) | Ejemplo en Español | Example in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| presidente / presidentes | president / presidents | El presidente dará un discurso hoy. | The president will give a speech today. |
| ministro / ministros | minister / ministers | El ministro de Salud anunció nuevas medidas. | The health minister announced new measures. |
| diputado / diputados | deputy / deputies | Los diputados debatieron el presupuesto. | The deputies debated the budget. |
| senador / senadores | senator / senators | La senadora propuso una reforma educativa. | The senator proposed an educational reform. |
| alcalde / alcaldes | mayor / mayors | El alcalde inauguró un parque nuevo. | The mayor inaugurated a new park. |
Political Ideologies
These are common political beliefs or systems.
| Español | English | Ejemplo en Español | Example in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| democracia | democracy | La democracia permite elegir a los líderes. | Democracy allows people to choose their leaders. |
| dictadura | dictatorship | La dictadura terminó hace veinte años. | The dictatorship ended twenty years ago. |
| socialismo | socialism | El socialismo busca la igualdad económica. | Socialism seeks economic equality. |
| capitalismo | capitalism | El capitalismo promueve la propiedad privada. | Capitalism promotes private ownership. |
| liberalismo | liberalism | El liberalismo defiende las libertades individuales. | Liberalism defends individual freedoms. |
Elections & Voting
Key vocabulary for describing the process of elections and voting.
| Español | English | Ejemplo en Español | Example in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| elección / elecciones | election / elections | Las elecciones serán en noviembre. | The elections will be in November. |
| voto / votos | vote / votes | Emití mi voto en la mesa número cinco. | I cast my vote at table number five. |
| urnas | ballot boxes | Las urnas se cerraron a las ocho. | The ballot boxes closed at eight. |
| campaña | campaign | La campaña electoral fue muy intensa. | The electoral campaign was very intense. |
| resultado / resultados | result / results | Los resultados se anunciarán esta noche. | The results will be announced tonight. |
Las ___ serán en noviembre.
What is the Spanish word for 'election'?
elecciones
'Elecciones' means 'elections', which are scheduled for November. 'Votos' means votes; 'urnas' means ballot boxes; 'campaña' means campaign.
Political Processes
Terms related to how governments make decisions and pass laws.
| Español | English | Ejemplo en Español | Example in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ley / leyes | law / laws | Aprobamos una nueva ley de educación. | We passed a new education law. |
| reforma / reformas | reform / reforms | La reforma tributaria entró en vigor. | The tax reform came into effect. |
| debate / debates | debate / debates | Hubo un debate entre los candidatos. | There was a debate among the candidates. |
| voto de confianza | vote of confidence | El gobierno ganó el voto de confianza. | The government won the vote of confidence. |
| moción / mociones | motion / motions | Presentaron una moción de censura. | They presented a motion of censure. |
Political Conflict
Vocabulary for describing disagreements, protests, and political violence.
| Español | English | Ejemplo en Español | Example in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| protesta / protestas | protest / protests | Hubo protestas en la capital ayer. | There were protests in the capital yesterday. |
| huelga / huelgas | strike / strikes | Los trabajadores hicieron una huelga general. | The workers went on a general strike. |
| manifestación / manifestaciones | demonstration / demonstrations | La manifestación reunió a miles de personas. | The demonstration gathered thousands of people. |
| represión | repression | La represión policial fue violenta. | The police repression was violent. |
| conflicto | conflict | El conflicto político afecta la economía. | The political conflict affects the economy. |
International Relations
Words for describing how countries interact politically.
| Español | English | Ejemplo en Español | Example in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| diplomacia | diplomacy | La diplomacia busca soluciones pacíficas. | Diplomacy seeks peaceful solutions. |
| tratado / tratados | treaty / treaties | Firmaron un tratado de paz. | They signed a peace treaty. |
| embajada / embajadas | embassy / embassies | La embajada está en el centro de la ciudad. | The embassy is downtown. |
| sanciones | sanctions | Imponemos sanciones económicas. | We impose economic sanctions. |
| organización internacional | international organization | La ONU es una organización internacional. | the UN is an international organization. |
Political Economy
Terms for discussing the relationship between politics and economics.
| Español | English | Ejemplo en Español | Example in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| presupuesto | budget | El presupuesto se redujo un 5%. | The budget was reduced by 5%. |
| gasto público | public spending | El gasto público aumentó en salud. | Public spending increased in health. |
| impuestos | taxes | Subieron los impuestos a las empresas. | Taxes on companies were raised. |
| deuda pública | public debt | La deuda pública creció este año. | Public debt grew this year. |
| corrupción | corruption | La corrupción sigue siendo un problema grave. | Corruption remains a serious problem. |
Political Terminology
Common abstract terms used in political discussion.
| Español | English | Ejemplo en Español | Example in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| poder | power | El poder político está en manos del pueblo. | Political power is in the hands of the people. |
| autoridad | authority | La policía actúa con autoridad. | The police act with authority. |
| soberanía | sovereignty | La soberanía nacional es inviolable. | National sovereignty is inviolable. |
| justicia | justice | Reclaman justicia por los afectados. | They demand justice for the victims. |
| ciudadano / ciudadanos | citizen / citizens | Los ciudadanos tienen derecho a votar. | Citizens have the right to vote. |
Media & Communication
How politics is covered and communicated to the public.
| Español | English | Ejemplo en Español | Example in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| discurso / discursos | speech / speeches | El presidente dio un discurso sobre la economía. | The president gave a speech about the economy. |
| comunicado | statement | Emitieron un comunicado oficial. | They issued an official statement. |
| debate público | public debate | El debate público se centró en la educación. | The public debate focused on education. |
| prensa | press | La prensa cubrió las elecciones. | The press covered the elections. |
| propaganda | propaganda | La propaganda electoral saturó la ciudad. | Electoral propaganda saturated the city. |
These sections provide a comprehensive overview of key political vocabulary in Spanish, along with example sentences to illustrate usage.
El presidente dio un ___ sobre la economía.
What is the Spanish word for 'speech'?
discurso
'Discurso' means 'speech'. The sentence says the president gave a speech about the economy. 'Debate' is debate; 'comunicado' is statement; 'entrevista' is interview.
Flashcards (1 of 50)
- Español (Singu./Plur.): partido / partidos
- Ejemplo en Español: Mi hermano es miembro del partido socialista.
- English (Singu./Plur.): party / parties
- Example in English: My brother is a member of the socialist party.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
