identificación
/ee-den-tee-fah-see-OHN/
ID
Showing an ID card used for identification documents.
identificación(noun)
ID
?identification document
,identification card
?physical document
driver's license
?often used as a general term for primary ID
📝 In Action
Necesitas tu identificación para abordar el avión.
A1You need your ID to board the plane.
Perdí mi identificación y no puedo sacar dinero del banco.
A2I lost my identification and I can't withdraw money from the bank.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Alert
Remember this word is feminine, even though it ends in '-ción'. You must use 'la' or 'una': 'la identificación'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
False Cognate Trap
Mistake: "No uses 'identificación' to mean 'identity' (the concept of who you are)."
Correction: Use 'identidad' (identity) instead. 'La identificación' is usually the physical card.
⭐ Usage Tips
Shortening the Word
Unlike English, Spanish speakers rarely shorten this word to 'ID' (pronounced /ai-di/). They usually say the full word or use a regional term like 'cédula'.
The act or process of determining identity by matching characteristics.
identificación(noun)
identification
?the act or process of determining identity
recognition
?recognizing something or someone
,establishment of identity
?legal context
📝 In Action
La identificación de las víctimas fue un proceso largo y difícil.
B1The identification of the victims was a long and difficult process.
El sistema permite la identificación automática de huellas dactilares.
B2The system allows for the automatic identification of fingerprints.
💡 Grammar Points
Action Noun
Many Spanish nouns ending in '-ción' (like this one) refer to the action of the related verb. Here, it’s the action of 'identificar' (to identify).
Showing psychological affinity or feeling empathy for another person.
identificación(noun)
identification
?psychological affinity/empathy
affinity
?strong connection
,empathy
?feeling what others feel
📝 In Action
Su identificación con la causa de los trabajadores fue inmediata.
C1His identification with the workers' cause was immediate.
La novela busca la identificación del lector con el protagonista.
C2The novel seeks the reader's identification with the protagonist.
💡 Grammar Points
Preposition Partner
When talking about feeling connected to something, 'identificación' almost always partners with the preposition 'con' (with): 'identificación con la cultura'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: identificación
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'identificación' in the sense of a psychological connection?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'identificación' and 'identidad'?
'Identificación' usually refers to the physical item (the card, the document) you show to prove who you are. 'Identidad' refers to the concept of who you are—your personal traits, name, and history—the thing that the document confirms.
Is 'identificación' masculine or feminine?
It is feminine. All Spanish nouns ending in '-ción' are feminine, so you always use 'la' or 'una' before it.