certamen
“certamen” means “contest” in Spanish (artistic or literary competition).
contest, competition
Also: pageant, award ceremony
📝 In Action
El certamen de fotografía empieza la próxima semana.
A2The photography contest starts next week.
Ella ganó el primer premio en el certamen literario de su ciudad.
B1She won first prize in her city's literary competition.
Muchos artistas internacionales asistieron al certamen de artes plásticas.
C1Many international artists attended the visual arts competition.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: certamen
Question 1 of 3
How do you say 'The literary contests' in Spanish?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'certamen', which means a struggle, fight, or rivalry. It comes from the verb 'certare', meaning to contend or strive to be the best.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'certamen' used for sports?
Usually, no. For sports, words like 'torneo' (tournament) or 'competición' (competition) are much more common. 'Certamen' is almost always reserved for art, beauty, or academics.
Why does 'certamen' have an accent in plural but not singular?
Spanish rules state that words ending in 'n' that are stressed on the second-to-last syllable don't need a mark. When you add '-es' to make it plural, the stress would shift, so we add the mark 'é' to keep the sound on the same syllable.
Can I use 'certamen' for a job interview competition?
No, that is usually called a 'proceso de selección' or 'oposición' (for government jobs).