A pristine white sheet of official paper lying flat, marked only by a large, colorful, abstract geometric seal in the corner, representing an official document.

documento

do-ku-MEN-to

nounmA1

document?official paper or file

Also:paper?official record,record?historical or digital file,ID?short for 'documento de identidad'

📝 In Action

Necesito firmar este documento antes de irme.

I need to sign this document before I leave.

¿Tienes tu documento de identidad a mano?

Do you have your ID (identity document) handy?

El abogado revisó todos los documentos legales del caso.

The lawyer reviewed all the legal documents for the case.

Word Connections

Synonyms

papel (paper)
archivo (file)
expediente (file/record (official))

Common Collocations

documento oficial – official document
firmar un documento – to sign a document
documento de viaje – travel document

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Rule

Even though 'documento' ends in '-o', which usually means it's masculine, remember that the word for 'paper' is also masculine: 'el papel'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Paper Types

Mistake: "Using 'papel' when you mean a formal record."

Correction: Use 'documento' for official records (like a contract or a passport). Use 'papel' for the material itself (like toilet paper or writing paper).

⭐ Usage Tips

Identification

The phrase 'documento de identidad' is the most common way to say 'ID' or 'identification card' across the Spanish-speaking world.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: documento

Question 1 of 1

Which word would you use if you needed to prove your age to a police officer?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

documentar(to document (verb)) - verb

documentación(documentation (noun)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'documento' masculine or feminine?

'Documento' is always masculine: 'el documento' and 'los documentos'.

How is 'documento' different from 'papel'?

'Documento' is used for official, important, or legal papers (like a contract or a passport). 'Papel' is the general word for the material paper or a piece of paper that isn't necessarily official.