censo
“censo” means “census” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
census
Also: registry
📝 In Action
El gobierno realiza un censo cada diez años para contar a la población.
A2The government carries out a census every ten years to count the population.
Según el último censo, hay más personas viviendo en el campo que antes.
B1According to the last census, there are more people living in the countryside than before.
Participar en el censo es importante para planificar los servicios públicos.
B2Participating in the census is important for planning public services.
electoral roll
Also: voter registry
📝 In Action
Tienes que estar inscrito en el censo para poder votar en las elecciones.
B1You have to be registered on the electoral roll to be able to vote in the elections.
El censo electoral se actualiza antes de cada votación.
B2The voter registry is updated before every vote.
Hubo una protesta porque muchos ciudadanos no aparecían en el censo.
C1There was a protest because many citizens did not appear on the electoral roll.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: censo
Question 1 of 3
If you want to know how many people live in a country, which word would you use?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'census,' which referred to the counting and evaluation of Roman citizens and their property.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'censo' and 'padrón'?
While often used interchangeably, a 'censo' is usually a statistical count done every few years (like every 10 years), whereas a 'padrón' is a local administrative list (like a city's registry) that is updated constantly.
Is 'censo' always about people?
Mostly, yes. However, you might occasionally hear of a 'censo agrario' (farm/livestock census) or a 'censo de viviendas' (housing census).
Does 'censo' also mean 'censorship'?
No! That is a common mistake. 'Censorship' in Spanish is 'censura'. Although they look similar, 'censo' is for counting and 'censura' is for blocking information.