impuestos
“impuestos” means “taxes” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
taxes
Also: duties, levies
📝 In Action
El gobierno anunció una subida de impuestos para el próximo año.
B1The government announced a tax increase for next year.
¿Cuánto pagas de impuestos en tu salario?
A2How much do you pay in taxes on your salary?
Necesito un contador para hacer la declaración de impuestos.
B1I need an accountant to do the tax return.
imposed
Also: established, dictated
📝 In Action
Los límites impuestos a la creatividad fueron criticados.
C1The limits imposed on creativity were criticized.
Aceptaron los términos impuestos sin objeciones.
B2They accepted the imposed terms without objection.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: impuestos
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly uses 'impuestos' as a noun?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin verb *imponere*, meaning 'to place upon' or 'to lay on.' This perfectly describes both meanings: taxes are 'placed upon' citizens, and rules are 'laid on' by authority.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'impuestos' (taxes) almost always plural?
We usually talk about taxes in general, which include many different types (income tax, sales tax, property tax, etc.). In Spanish, it's natural to use the plural form 'los impuestos' when referring to the overall system of taxation.
How can I tell if 'impuestos' means 'taxes' or 'imposed'?
If it follows an article like 'los' and is the main subject of conversation, it almost certainly means 'taxes' (e.g., 'Los impuestos son altos'). If it follows a noun and describes it, it means 'imposed' (e.g., 'Los cambios impuestos').