observación
/ob-ser-bah-SYOHN/
observation
"Observación" (observation) means the act of watching carefully.
observación(noun)
observation
?the act of watching carefully
scrutiny
?careful examination
,watching
?monitoring
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Remember to use the feminine articles and adjectives with this word: 'la observación' or 'una observación atenta' (a careful observation).
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'hacer'
To talk about performing the act of observing, you can often use 'hacer una observación' (meaning: to watch carefully or conduct a study).
"Observación" can also mean a remark, or a stated comment made during a conversation.
📝 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.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Observar' instead of 'Comentar'
Mistake: "El jefe observó que el trabajo estaba mal."
Correction: El jefe hizo la observación de que el trabajo estaba mal. (Use the noun form or 'comentar' if you mean 'to state').
⭐ Usage Tips
The Dual Meaning of 'Hacer'
The phrase 'hacer una observación' can mean 'to watch carefully' (Sense 1) or 'to make a comment' (Sense 2). If the context involves speaking, writing, or feedback, it almost always means 'remark' or 'comment'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: observación
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'observación' in its meaning of 'a stated comment'?
📚 More Resources
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.'