autonomía
“autonomía” means “independence” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
independence
Also: self-governance
📝 In Action
Los adolescentes necesitan un poco de autonomía para aprender.
A2Teenagers need a bit of independence to learn.
Mi nuevo trabajo me da mucha autonomía para organizar mi tiempo.
B1My new job gives me a lot of autonomy to organize my time.
España está dividida en diecisiete comunidades autónomas.
B2Spain is divided into seventeen autonomous communities.
battery life
Also: range
📝 In Action
La autonomía de este móvil es de solo cinco horas.
B1The battery life of this mobile phone is only five hours.
Este coche eléctrico tiene una autonomía de 400 kilómetros.
B2This electric car has a range of 400 kilometers.
Buscamos un dron con mayor autonomía de vuelo.
C1We are looking for a drone with a longer flight time.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: autonomía
Question 1 of 3
If you are buying a car and the salesman mentions 'la autonomía,' what is he talking about?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Ancient Greek 'autos' (self) and 'nomos' (law/rule). It literally means 'making your own laws.'
First recorded: 18th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'autonomía' the same as 'independencia'?
They are very close. 'Independencia' often means complete separation, while 'autonomía' usually means having the power to make your own rules within a larger system.
How do I say 'freelancer' using this word?
You don't use 'autonomía' for the person. You say 'Soy autónomo' (if you are male) or 'Soy autónoma' (if you are female).
Can I use 'autonomía' for my laptop battery?
Yes! It is the most common way to describe how long a laptop or phone battery lasts.