expresión
/ess-preh-SYOHN/
expression
Expresión as the act of communicating or expressing oneself.
expresión(noun)
expression
?act of communicating
statement
?formal declaration
,utterance
?something said
📝 In Action
La libertad de expresión es fundamental en una democracia.
A2Freedom of expression is fundamental in a democracy.
Necesito encontrar una expresión para describir este sentimiento.
A1I need to find a way to express this feeling.
El arte es una poderosa expresión cultural.
B1Art is a powerful cultural expression.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Remember that 'expresión' is always a feminine noun, so you must use 'la' or 'una' with it: 'una expresión clara' (a clear expression).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender Confusion
Mistake: "El expresión"
Correction: La expresión. Nouns ending in -ión are almost always feminine in Spanish.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'De'
You often link 'expresión' to what is being expressed using 'de': 'expresión de alegría' (expression of joy).
This definition of expresión refers to a specific phrase or saying.
expresión(noun)
phrase
?a specific saying
term
?a technical word
,formula
?mathematical or symbolic grouping
📝 In Action
Esa expresión es muy común en Argentina, pero no en España.
A2That phrase is very common in Argentina, but not in Spain.
No entiendo la expresión matemática en la pizarra.
B2I don't understand the mathematical formula on the board.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Language
When talking about sayings that have a non-literal meaning (like 'it's raining cats and dogs'), the best Spanish term is 'expresión idiomática'.
Expresión referring to a facial expression or the look on one's face.
📝 In Action
Su expresión de miedo era inconfundible.
B1Her expression of fear was unmistakable.
Tenía una expresión seria cuando me dio la noticia.
A2He had a serious look when he gave me the news.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using Verbs with Facial Expressions
Common verbs used with this meaning include 'tener' (to have a look), 'cambiar' (to change one's look), and 'mostrar' (to show an expression).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: expresión
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'expresión' to mean 'a specific phrase or saying'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How is 'expresión' different from 'frase'?
While both can mean 'phrase,' 'expresión' is often used for something that conveys a strong feeling, a common saying, or an idiom ('expresión idiomática'). 'Frase' is a more general term for any grammatical sentence or sequence of words.
Why is 'expresión' feminine if it doesn't refer to a woman?
Spanish assigns grammatical gender to all nouns. Most nouns that end in the suffix -ión (like nación, canción, situación) are feminine, regardless of what they mean. This is a very helpful pattern to remember!