burocracia
“burocracia” means “bureaucracy” in Spanish (The system of administration and government).
bureaucracy
Also: red tape
📝 In Action
La burocracia en este país es muy lenta y frustrante.
A2The bureaucracy in this country is very slow and frustrating.
Para obtener la visa, tuvimos que pasar por mucha burocracia.
B1To get the visa, we had to go through a lot of red tape.
El gobierno quiere reducir la burocracia para ayudar a las empresas.
B2The government wants to reduce bureaucracy to help businesses.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: burocracia
Question 1 of 3
Which article should you use with 'burocracia'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the French word 'bureaucratie', which combines 'bureau' (desk or office) and the Greek suffix '-cratia' (power or rule). It literally means 'the power of the office.'
First recorded: 18th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'burocracia' always negative?
While it technically just refers to a system of administration, in daily conversation it is almost always used to complain about things being slow or complicated.
How do you say 'bureaucrat' in Spanish?
You use 'burócrata'. Note that it ends in 'a' for both men and women (el burócrata / la burócrata).
Is there a verb for making things more bureaucratic?
Yes, 'burocratizar'. It means to introduce more administrative procedures to a process.