Two friendly cartoon bears working together to move a large red wagon filled with colorful fruit. One bear is pulling the handle, and the other is pushing the back, illustrating shared effort.

cooperación

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NounfB1

cooperation?working together toward a shared goal

Also:collaboration?joint effort,aid?specifically, international assistance or developmental help

📝 In Action

La cooperación entre los equipos fue esencial para ganar el torneo.

The cooperation between the teams was essential to win the tournament.

Se necesita la cooperación de todos los ciudadanos para mantener la ciudad limpia.

The cooperation of all citizens is needed to keep the city clean.

El país firmó un acuerdo de cooperación económica con sus vecinos.

The country signed an economic cooperation agreement with its neighbors.

Word Connections

Synonyms

colaboración (collaboration)
ayuda (help)

Antonyms

conflicto (conflict)
rivalidad (rivalry)

Common Collocations

espíritu de cooperación – spirit of cooperation
cooperación internacional – international cooperation
falta de cooperación – lack of cooperation

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

Even though it ends in '-ción', which is a common noun ending, remember that 'cooperación' always uses the feminine article: 'la cooperación'.

Working With Others

When talking about cooperating with someone, use the preposition 'con': 'cooperación con el gobierno' (cooperation with the government).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing up the Noun and Verb

Mistake: "Using 'cooperar' when you mean the noun 'cooperación'."

Correction: The noun is 'cooperación' (the act itself). The verb is 'cooperar' (to cooperate). Use 'Hay mucha cooperación' (noun) instead of 'Hay mucho cooperar'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal Contexts

In formal or political settings, 'cooperación' often refers to large-scale agreements or aid projects, like 'cooperación para el desarrollo' (development cooperation).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cooperación

Question 1 of 1

Which phrase correctly describes a lack of teamwork?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cooperar(to cooperate (verb)) - verb

cooperativo(cooperative (adjective)) - adjective

cooperante(cooperator or aid worker (noun/adjective)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'cooperación' used only for serious, formal situations?

No, while it is used in formal settings like politics and business, you can use 'cooperación' in everyday life too. For example, 'Necesito tu cooperación para limpiar la cocina' (I need your cooperation to clean the kitchen).

How is 'cooperación' different from 'colaboración'?

They are synonyms and often interchangeable! 'Colaboración' (collaboration) might slightly emphasize the joint effort on a specific task, while 'cooperación' (cooperation) can emphasize the willingness or spirit of working together, but they are generally used the same way.