hacienda
/ah-syen-dah/
estate
A large rural estate, or hacienda, with its characteristic architecture and vast land.
hacienda(noun)
estate
?large rural property
ranch
?large farm
,plantation
?historical agricultural land
📝 In Action
Visitamos una antigua hacienda de café en Colombia.
B1We visited an old coffee estate in Colombia.
La hacienda tenía miles de hectáreas y mucho ganado.
B2The ranch had thousands of acres and a lot of livestock.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
This word is always feminine, so use 'la' or 'una' before it.
⭐ Usage Tips
Think Big
A 'hacienda' isn't just a small garden; it implies a large, grand piece of land with a main house.
The government institution responsible for public finances and taxes.
hacienda(noun)
Tax Agency
?government tax department
Treasury
?public finances
,Exchequer
?British English equivalent for public funds
📝 In Action
Tengo que hacer la declaración de la renta para Hacienda.
B2I have to do my tax return for the Tax Agency.
El Ministerio de Hacienda anunció nuevos presupuestos.
C1The Ministry of Finance announced new budgets.
💡 Grammar Points
Capitalization
When you are talking about the specific government department, it is usually capitalized as 'Hacienda'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Not just 'taxes'
Mistake: "Using 'hacienda' to mean the money you pay (taxes)."
Correction: Use 'impuestos' for the money itself. 'Hacienda' is the office you pay them to.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: hacienda
Question 1 of 2
If you are in Spain and someone says they are 'hablando con Hacienda', what are they doing?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'hacienda' the same as 'rancho'?
They are similar, but a 'hacienda' usually implies a larger, more historic estate with a grand house, whereas 'rancho' can be smaller or more modest depending on the country.
Why is the tax office called 'Hacienda'?
Historically, the word referred to all of a person's or a state's assets and property. The department managing the 'Public Hacienda' (the country's wealth) simply became known as 'Hacienda'.