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diligencia

dee-lee-HEN-syah/diliˈxen.sja/

errand

Also: procedure, formality
NounfB1
Latin America
A person holding a grocery bag and a small package while walking down a sunny sidewalk.

📝 In Action

Tengo que ir al banco a hacer una diligencia.

B1

I have to go to the bank to run an errand.

Mañana no trabajo porque tengo varias diligencias pendientes.

B1

I'm not working tomorrow because I have several errands to take care of.

La diligencia para obtener la visa fue muy larga.

B2

The procedure to get the visa was very long.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • trámite (procedure/paperwork)
  • mandado (errand)

Common Collocations

  • hacer diligencias – to run errands
  • diligencias administrativas – administrative procedures

diligence

Also: care, promptness
NounfB2formal
A person carefully and quickly painting a wooden fence with a brush.

📝 In Action

Ella realiza su trabajo con mucha diligencia.

B2

She carries out her work with great diligence.

El abogado actuó con la debida diligencia.

C1

The lawyer acted with due diligence.

Necesitamos resolver este problema con diligencia.

B2

We need to resolve this problem promptly/efficiently.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • esmero (care/attention)
  • rapidez (speed)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • debida diligencia – due diligence
  • con diligencia – diligently

stagecoach

NounfC1
A classic wooden stagecoach being pulled by two horses on a dirt path.

📝 In Action

Los viajeros cruzaban el desierto en diligencia.

C1

The travelers crossed the desert by stagecoach.

El museo tiene una diligencia del siglo XIX.

C1

The museum has a 19th-century stagecoach.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: diligencia

Question 1 of 3

If someone says 'Voy a hacer una diligencia', what are they probably doing?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
diligente(diligent/hard-working) — Adjective
diligentemente(diligently) — Adverb
diligenciar(to process/manage a task) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'diligentia', which comes from the verb 'diligere', meaning 'to value highly' or 'to love'. Originally, it meant the care you put into something because you value it.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: diligenceFrench: diligence

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'diligencia' for grocery shopping?

Yes! While 'hacer las compras' is more specific, 'hacer diligencias' covers grocery shopping, going to the pharmacy, or any other out-of-house chore.

Is 'diligencia' used more in Spain or Latin America?

It is used in both, but the meaning of 'errand' is much more common in daily conversation in Latin American countries. In Spain, people might use 'gestiones' or 'recados' for errands.

How do I say 'due diligence' in a business meeting?

You use the exact phrase 'debida diligencia'. It is a standard professional term in Spanish-speaking business environments.