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concurso

kon-KOOR-soh/koŋˈkuɾso/

contest, competition

Also: game show, tournament
NounmA2
A simplified illustration showing three figures on a winner's podium, with the central figure standing highest, holding a gold trophy.

📝 In Action

¿Viste el concurso de talentos anoche? ¡Fue increíble!

A2

Did you see the talent contest last night? It was incredible!

Ganó el primer premio en el concurso de fotografía.

B1

She won the first prize in the photography competition.

Mucha gente se presentó al concurso para el nuevo puesto de trabajo.

B1

Many people applied for the competition for the new job position.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • competición (competition)
  • certamen (contest (often literary/artistic))
  • sorteo (draw/raffle)

Common Collocations

  • concurso de belleza – beauty pageant
  • concurso público – public competition (for jobs/contracts)

public tender, bankruptcy proceedings

Also: creditors' meeting
NounmC1 formal
A simple illustration showing several standardized formal envelopes being dropped into the slot of a large, secure collection box.

📝 In Action

La empresa se declaró en concurso de acreedores tras la crisis financiera.

C1

The company filed for bankruptcy proceedings after the financial crisis.

El ayuntamiento ha abierto un concurso para la construcción del nuevo puente.

C2

The city council has opened a public tender for the construction of the new bridge.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • quiebra (bankruptcy)
  • licitación (tendering/bidding)

Common Collocations

  • concurso de acreedores – creditors' voluntary arrangement (bankruptcy)
  • abrir un concurso – to open a tender/bid

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: concurso

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'concurso' in its legal/business sense?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
concursar(to compete/to take part in a contest) — Verb
concursante(contestant/competitor) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
discursorecurso
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word *concursus*, which literally meant 'running together' or 'a gathering.' This original meaning explains why the word is used both for people gathering to compete (a contest) and for creditors gathering to deal with a debt (bankruptcy).

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: concorsoEnglish: concourse

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'concurso' the same as 'competición'?

Yes, they are synonyms and often interchangeable when talking about games or sports. However, 'concurso' is more commonly used for structured events like TV game shows, talent reviews, or public job applications, while 'competición' is broader and used more often for athletic events.

How do I say 'contestant'?

The person participating in a 'concurso' is called a 'concursante.' This word is used for both men and women.