acción
“acción” means “action” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
action
Also: act, activity
📝 In Action
Es hora de pasar a la acción y resolver el problema.
A2It is time to move to action and solve the problem.
La acción más importante es empezar ahora.
A1The most important action is to start now.
Tomamos acción legal contra la compañía.
B1We took legal action against the company.
plot, storyline
Also: action
📝 In Action
La acción de la película transcurre en el siglo XIX.
B1The plot of the movie takes place in the 19th century.
Esta novela tiene mucha acción y suspense.
B2This novel has a lot of action and suspense.
share, stock
📝 In Action
Compró cien acciones de la compañía de tecnología.
B2He bought one hundred shares of the technology company.
El valor de las acciones subió inesperadamente.
C1The value of the stock went up unexpectedly.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: acción
Question 1 of 1
Which Spanish sentence correctly uses 'acciones' in its financial meaning?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Latin word *actio*, meaning 'a doing, a performing, a plea, or a proceeding.' This root is tied to the Latin verb *agere* (to drive, lead, or do). Its connection to finance (shares) is a modern extension of the idea of 'participation' or 'right to proceedings.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'acción' feminine if many words ending in -o are masculine?
This is a great pattern to notice! Spanish nouns ending in -ción, -sión, -tad, and -dad are almost always feminine. It's a key rule to remember: 'la nación,' 'la decisión,' 'la amistad,' 'la acción.' Ignore the 'o' pattern for these specific endings.
How do I distinguish between the general meaning and the movie plot meaning?
Context is key. If you are talking about something exciting happening in a film or book, it's the plot/excitement meaning. If you are talking about a real-world effort or decision (e.g., solving a problem), it's the general 'act or deed' meaning.