interpretación
/in-ter-pre-tah-SYON/
interpretation
Interpretación can mean the way someone understands or explains something.
interpretación(noun)
interpretation
?the way something is understood or explained
reading
?a particular version or understanding of a situation
,take
?an opinion or perspective on something
📝 In Action
Tu interpretación de los hechos es muy diferente a la mía.
B1Your interpretation of the facts is very different from mine.
El poema está abierto a muchas interpretaciones.
B2The poem is open to many interpretations.
💡 Grammar Points
The -ción Rule
Most Spanish words ending in '-ción' are feminine. You should use 'la' or 'una' with this word (la interpretación).
❌ Common Pitfalls
The plural form
Mistake: "las interpretacións"
Correction: las interpretaciones (when a word ends in a consonant like 'n', we add '-es' to make it plural, and the written accent on the 'o' disappears).
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing Opinions
Use this word when you want to clarify that you are offering your personal view on a topic rather than stating a hard fact.
Interpretación can refer to a musical or dramatic performance.
interpretación(noun)
performance
?acting a role or playing music
rendition
?a specific performance of a song or play
,acting
?the art or occupation of performing
📝 In Action
Su interpretación de Hamlet fue premiada por la crítica.
B2His performance of Hamlet was praised by critics.
La interpretación de la orquesta fue impecable.
C1The orchestra's rendition was flawless.
💡 Grammar Points
Nouns from Verbs
This noun comes directly from the verb 'interpretar'. In Spanish, adding '-ción' to a verb stem often creates a noun that describes the action itself.
⭐ Usage Tips
Performance vs. Show
While 'show' or 'espectáculo' refers to the whole event, 'interpretación' refers specifically to the quality of the acting or playing.
Interpretación also refers to the act of oral translation between people speaking different languages.
interpretación(noun)
interpreting
?oral translation between languages
interpretation
?the professional service of translating speech
📝 In Action
Ofrecemos servicios de interpretación simultánea.
C1We offer simultaneous interpreting services.
La interpretación consecutiva requiere mucha memoria.
C2Consecutive interpreting requires a lot of memory.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Interpretación vs. Traducción
Mistake: "Using 'traducción' for spoken words."
Correction: Professionals use 'interpretación' for spoken language and 'traducción' for written text.
⭐ Usage Tips
Professional Context
If you are at a conference and need someone to translate what is being said live, you are looking for an 'intérprete' to do 'interpretación'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: interpretación
Question 1 of 2
Which word would you use to describe an actor's portrayal of a character?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'interpretación' always feminine?
Yes, like almost all Spanish nouns ending in '-ción', it is always feminine (la interpretación).
Can I use 'interpretación' for translating a book?
No, for written works, you should use 'traducción'. 'Interpretación' is used for spoken language or for the 'meaning' you get from a book.