observación
“observación” means “observation” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
observation
Also: scrutiny, watching
📝 In Action
La observación de las estrellas requiere un telescopio potente.
A2The observation of the stars requires a powerful telescope.
El periodo de observación del paciente es de 48 horas.
B1The patient's observation period is 48 hours.
Se necesita mucha observación para notar esos pequeños errores.
B1A lot of observation is needed to notice those small errors.
remark
Also: comment, note
📝 In Action
El profesor hizo una observación muy pertinente sobre mi tesis.
B2The professor made a very relevant comment about my thesis.
Permítame una pequeña observación antes de que votemos.
C1Allow me a small remark before we vote.
Su única observación fue que el informe era demasiado largo.
B2His only comment was that the report was too long.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "observación" in Spanish:
observation→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: observación
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'observación' in its meaning of 'a stated comment'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
This word comes from the Latin verb *observare*, which meant 'to watch, regard, or pay attention to.' It entered Spanish to describe both the act of careful watching and the resulting comment or note derived from that attention.
First recorded: Late Middle Ages (around 13th-14th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
If I want to say 'I observed that...', should I use 'observación'?
No. 'Observación' is the noun (the thing or the act). If you want to use it as a verb, use 'observar': 'Yo observé que...' or 'Hice la observación de que...'
Is 'observación' formal or informal?
It is a neutral and common word. However, when used to mean 'a comment,' it often sounds slightly more formal or professional than simply saying 'comentario.'