dilema
“dilema” means “dilemma” in Spanish (a choice between two options).
dilemma
Also: predicament, quandary
📝 In Action
Tengo un gran dilema: no sé si aceptar el trabajo en Madrid o quedarme aquí.
B1I have a big dilemma: I don't know whether to accept the job in Madrid or stay here.
El protagonista de la película se enfrenta a un dilema moral muy difícil.
B2The main character of the movie faces a very difficult moral dilemma.
Para resolver este dilema, debemos analizar los pros y los contras.
C1To solve this dilemma, we must analyze the pros and cons.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: dilema
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the correct way to say 'the dilemma'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Ancient Greek 'dílēmma,' where 'di-' means 'two' and 'lēmma' means 'premise' or 'proposition.' It literally describes a situation where you are presented with two paths.
First recorded: 17th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'dilema' and 'problema' the same thing?
Not exactly. A 'problema' is any difficulty, while a 'dilema' specifically refers to a situation where you have to make a tough choice between two possibilities.
Why is it masculine if it ends in 'a'?
In Spanish, many words that come from Greek and end in '-ma' are masculine, such as 'idioma', 'sistema', and 'tema'.
Can I use 'dilema' for a situation with three options?
Technically, that would be a 'trilema', but in everyday Spanish, people use 'dilema' for any difficult choice, regardless of the number of options.