condado
/kohn-DAH-doh/
county
Visualizing 'condado' as an administrative county, a distinct geographical division.
📝 In Action
El condado de Los Ángeles es muy grande y poblado.
A2Los Angeles County is very large and populated.
Tuvimos que ir a la oficina del condado para registrar la propiedad.
B1We had to go to the county office to register the property.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun
Since 'condado' ends in -o, it is a masculine noun. Always use the masculine articles 'el' or 'un' before it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Condado' and 'Ciudad'
Mistake: "Usando 'Mi ciudad se llama Condado de Miami.'"
Correction: Saying 'Mi ciudad está en el condado de Miami.' (A county is usually much larger than a single city and contains many cities.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Differences
In most Spanish-speaking countries, the administrative division equivalent to a US 'county' is often called a 'municipio' or 'provincia.' 'Condado' is mostly used when referring to countries like the US, UK, or Ireland.
Illustrating 'condado' as an earldom, the territorial domain of a European nobleman.
condado(noun)
earldom
?The domain or territory of a European Count or Earl
,countship
?The title or dignity of a Count
📝 In Action
El rey le otorgó un condado en la frontera norte del reino.
B2The king granted him an earldom on the northern border of the kingdom.
El Condado de Castilla fue un estado medieval importante.
C1The County of Castile (Countship of Castile) was an important medieval state.
⭐ Usage Tips
Historical Context
This meaning relates directly to the title 'conde' (count/earl). The 'condado' is the land or area that the 'conde' rules.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: condado
Question 1 of 1
Which of these sentences uses 'condado' in its historical or noble sense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'condado' the same as 'provincia' or 'municipio'?
Not exactly, but they are related. 'Condado' is the standard translation for the US/UK 'county.' In Spain and Latin America, the closest equivalent administrative units are usually the 'provincia' (province) or 'municipio' (municipality/township), which handle local government.
Does 'condado' always refer to a place?
It almost always refers to a geographical or territorial area, either a modern administrative area (like a county in Florida) or a historical territory ruled by a count (an earldom).