determinación
“determinación” means “determination” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
determination
Also: resolve, willpower
📝 In Action
Ella tiene mucha determinación para aprender español.
A2She has a lot of determination to learn Spanish.
Su determinación le ayudó a ganar la competencia.
B1His determination helped him win the competition.
A pesar de los problemas, mantuvo su determinación intacta.
C1Despite the problems, she kept her resolve intact.
decision
Also: determination
📝 In Action
Tomamos la determinación de vender la casa.
B1We made the decision to sell the house.
La determinación del juez fue justa.
B2The judge's ruling (decision) was fair.
La determinación de la causa del incendio tomó días.
C1Determining the cause of the fire took days.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: determinación
Question 1 of 3
Which article should you use with 'determinación'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'determinatio', which essentially means 'marking out boundaries'. It comes from 'de-' (completely) and 'terminare' (to set limits or ends).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'determinación' always used for people?
Not always. While it usually refers to a person's grit, it can also refer to a formal decision made by a group or a scientific finding.
How do you say 'I am determined'?
You would typically use the adjective form: 'Estoy decidido' (if you are male) or 'Estoy decidida' (if you are female). You can also say 'Tengo determinación'.
Does it have a plural form?
Yes: 'determinaciones'. When you make it plural, the accent mark on the 'o' disappears.