Inklingo
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consejo

/kon-SEH-ho/

advice

A wise older woman sitting across a small table from a young person, gently pointing toward a clear, bright path visible in the distance, symbolizing giving good advice.

The primary meaning of 'consejo' is 'advice' or guidance, often shown as one person offering a helpful direction to another.

consejo(Noun)

mA2

advice

?

Guidance or a recommendation

Also:

tip

?

A helpful hint

,

counsel

?

More formal guidance

📝 In Action

Mi madre siempre me da buenos consejos.

A2

My mother always gives me good advice.

¿Puedo pedirte un consejo sobre qué coche comprar?

A2

Can I ask your advice on which car to buy?

Gracias por el consejo, lo tendré en cuenta.

B1

Thanks for the tip, I'll keep it in mind.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • recomendación (recommendation)
  • sugerencia (suggestion)

Common Collocations

  • dar un consejo – to give a piece of advice
  • pedir consejo – to ask for advice
  • seguir un consejo – to follow advice

💡 Grammar Points

A Countable Noun in Spanish

Unlike the English word 'advice', which is usually treated as a single concept, 'consejo' is countable. You can have 'un consejo' (one piece of advice) or 'varios consejos' (several pieces of advice).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting You Can Use the Plural

Mistake: "Necesito un consejo. (When you need multiple tips)"

Correction: Necesito unos consejos. (I need some advice/a few tips.) Don't be afraid to use the plural form 'consejos' when you're talking about more than one tip.

⭐ Usage Tips

Introducing a Tip

A very natural way to offer a suggestion is to start with 'Un consejo:'. For example: 'Un consejo: llega temprano.' (A tip: arrive early.)

Five diverse, formally dressed people seated around a large, round wooden table in a meeting room, intensely focused on a central point of discussion, representing a council.

In formal contexts, 'consejo' refers to a 'council' or 'board'—an administrative group meeting to make decisions.

consejo(Noun)

mB1

council

?

An administrative or advisory body (e.g., city council)

Also:

board

?

A group of directors (e.g., board of directors)

,

committee

?

A group appointed for a specific function

📝 In Action

El consejo de la ciudad aprobó la nueva ley.

B1

The city council approved the new law.

La decisión fue tomada por el consejo de administración de la empresa.

B2

The decision was made by the company's board of directors.

El Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU se reunirá mañana.

C1

The UN Security Council will meet tomorrow.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • junta (board, committee)
  • comité (committee)
  • asamblea (assembly)

Common Collocations

  • consejo de ministros – council of ministers, cabinet
  • consejo estudiantil – student council
  • consejo directivo – governing board, board of directors

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing the Two Meanings

Mistake: "Me dio un consejo de la ciudad."

Correction: This sounds like 'He gave me a city council'. The context almost always makes the meaning clear. A sentence can even have both: 'El consejo de la ciudad me dio un buen consejo.' (The city council gave me some good advice.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Look for 'de'...

You can usually tell 'consejo' means 'council' or 'board' when it's followed by 'de' + a noun, which specifies what kind of council it is. For example, 'consejo de estudiantes' (student council).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: consejo

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'consejo' to mean a group of people?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

aconsejar(to advise) - verb
consejero/a(advisor, counselor) - noun
desaconsejar(to advise against) - verb
aconsejable(advisable) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'consejo' and 'aviso'?

Great question! A 'consejo' is a suggestion about what someone should do, like helpful advice from a friend. An 'aviso' is more like a warning, a notice, or an announcement. For example, 'aviso de tormenta' is a storm warning, not storm advice.

Is it 'un consejo' or 'una conseja'?

'Consejo' is always masculine, so it's 'un consejo' or 'los consejos'. There is a rare word, 'conseja', but it means an old fable or folk tale, not advice. So for advice, always use the masculine form.