congreso
/kohn-GREH-soh/
Congress
The word congreso can refer to a national legislative body, often translated as Congress.
congreso(noun)
Congress
?The national legislative body
,parliament
?The national legislative body
legislature
?The law-making assembly
📝 In Action
El congreso aprobó la nueva ley de impuestos.
B1Congress approved the new tax law.
La sesión del congreso será televisada esta noche.
B2The parliamentary session will be televised tonight.
El edificio del congreso es un lugar histórico.
A2The congress building is a historic place.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun Rule
Even though this word refers to a large group of people, it is always a masculine noun ('el congreso'), so use masculine articles and adjectives with it.
⭐ Usage Tips
Capitalization
Unlike English, Spanish usually keeps 'congreso' lowercase unless it is part of a formal proper name (e.g., 'El Congreso de la Nación').
A second meaning of congreso is a large formal meeting or conference.
congreso(noun)
conference
?A large formal meeting
,convention
?A large formal meeting
symposium
?A specialized academic meeting
📝 In Action
Viajó a Madrid para asistir a un congreso de medicina.
B1He traveled to Madrid to attend a medical conference.
El próximo congreso internacional se celebrará en junio.
B2The next international convention will be held in June.
Presentamos nuestra investigación en el congreso anual.
B1We presented our research at the annual conference.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'a' with Attendance
When talking about attending a conference, use the preposition 'a' (to/at): 'Asistir a un congreso'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Conference'
Mistake: "Using 'conferencia' when referring to the large, multi-day event."
Correction: 'Congreso' refers to the big event; 'conferencia' is usually just one speech or lecture within the event.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: congreso
Question 1 of 2
Which Spanish sentence correctly uses 'congreso' in the sense of a professional meeting?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'congreso' only used for political bodies?
No, 'congreso' has two very common meanings. While it refers to the national assembly (Congress/Parliament), it is equally used to mean any large, formal meeting or convention, especially in academic or professional fields.
How do I know if 'congreso' means 'Congress' or 'conference'?
Look at the context. If the sentence mentions voting, laws, or senators, it means the political body. If it mentions presentations, research, or travel, it likely means a professional conference.