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obligatorio

oh-blee-gah-toh-ryoh/oβliɣaˈtoɾjo/

“obligatorio” means “mandatory” in Spanish (referring to a rule or law).

mandatory

Also: compulsory, required
A child wearing a bright orange life jacket while sitting in a small boat.

📝 In Action

El uso del casco es obligatorio para montar en bicicleta.

A1

The use of a helmet is mandatory for riding a bicycle.

Matemáticas es una asignatura obligatoria este año.

A2

Math is a required subject this year.

No es una sugerencia, es un paso obligatorio del proceso.

B1

It's not a suggestion; it's a mandatory step in the process.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • forzoso (forced/unavoidable)
  • preciso (necessary)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • enseñanza obligatoria – compulsory education
  • parada obligatoria – mandatory stop
  • de carácter obligatorio – of a mandatory nature

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "obligatorio" in Spanish:

compulsory→mandatory→required→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: obligatorio

Question 1 of 3

How do you say 'The exam is mandatory' if 'examen' is a masculine word?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
obligar(to obligate/force) — Verb
obligación(obligation) — Noun
obligatoriamente(mandatorily) — Adverb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From Latin 'obligatorius', coming from 'obligare' which means 'to tie or bind'. Imagine being 'tied' to a rule!

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: obligatoryFrench: obligatoireItalian: obbligatorio

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'obligatorio' the same as 'necesario'?

Not exactly. 'Obligatorio' means it is a formal rule or law. 'Necesario' just means you need it to achieve a goal.

Does 'obligatorio' always go after the noun?

In most cases, yes. It sounds most natural to say 'un paso obligatorio' rather than 'un obligatorio paso'.

How do I make it plural?

Just add an 's'! Use 'obligatorios' for masculine groups and 'obligatorias' for feminine groups.