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circunstancia

seer-koon-STAHN-syah/θiɾkunˈstanθja/

“circunstancia” means “circumstance” in Spanish (a fact or condition connected with or relevant to an event).

circumstance

Also: situation, condition
NounfB1
General
A hiker standing on a path in the rain, wearing a bright yellow raincoat and holding an umbrella.

📝 In Action

Es una circunstancia muy extraña.

A2

It is a very strange circumstance.

Debemos adaptarnos a cada circunstancia de la vida.

B1

We must adapt to every circumstance in life.

Bajo ninguna circunstancia debes abrir esa puerta.

B2

Under no circumstances should you open that door.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • situación (situation)
  • contexto (context)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • dadas las circunstancias – given the circumstances
  • bajo ninguna circunstancia – under no circumstances
  • circunstancias agravantes – aggravating circumstances

Idioms & Expressions

  • estar a la altura de las circunstancias – to rise to the occasion

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "circunstancia" in Spanish:

circumstance→condition→situation→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: circunstancia

Question 1 of 3

Which phrase means 'to rise to the occasion'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
circunstancial(circumstantial) — Adjective
circunstanciado(detailed/circumstantiated) — Adjective
circunstancialmente(circumstantially) — Adverb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'circumstantia', which literally means 'standing around.' It describes the things that 'stand around' an event.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: circumstanceFrench: circonstance

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'circunstancia' only used in formal writing?

No, it's very common in everyday conversation when explaining why something happened or setting a condition.

Can I use it to mean 'accidental'?

Not directly. You would use the related adjective 'circunstancial' to describe something that happened by chance or depends on the situation.

What's the difference between 'circunstancia' and 'detalle'?

A 'detalle' is a small piece of information. A 'circunstancia' is a factor that actually affects the outcome or nature of an event.