Inklingo
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oposición

/oh-poh-see-SYOHN/

opposition

Two people engaged in a tug-of-war with a thick rope, pulling in opposite directions.

A tug-of-war illustrates the concept of resistance and disagreement inherent in 'oposición'.

oposición(noun)

fB1

opposition

?

general disagreement or resistance

Also:

resistance

?

acting against something

,

contrast

?

differences between two things

📝 In Action

Hay mucha oposición al nuevo proyecto de ley.

B1

There is a lot of opposition to the new bill.

Su propuesta encontró una fuerte oposición en la oficina.

B2

His proposal met with strong resistance in the office.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • en oposición a – in opposition to
  • mostrar oposición – to show opposition

💡 Grammar Points

Feminine Ending

Words ending in '-ción' are almost always feminine, so you should use 'la' or 'una' with this word.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Spelling Alert

Mistake: "oppositión"

Correction: oposición

⭐ Usage Tips

Using 'En'

To say something is 'against' something else, use the phrase 'en oposición a'.

A large group of people standing on one side of a line, facing a smaller group on the other side, representing different sides of a debate.

The 'oposición' refers to the group or political parties that stand against the current leadership.

oposición(noun)

fB2

the opposition

?

political parties against the current government

📝 In Action

La oposición abandonó el parlamento en señal de protesta.

B2

The opposition left parliament as a sign of protest.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • minoría (minority (in politics))

Antonyms

  • gobierno (government)
  • oficialismo (ruling party)

Common Collocations

  • líder de la oposición – leader of the opposition
A student sitting at a wooden desk in a quiet room, focused on writing on a large stack of papers.

In many Spanish-speaking countries, 'oposición' refers to the rigorous competitive exams for public service jobs.

oposición(noun)

fC1

competitive exam

?

public service entrance exams

Also:

civil service exam

?

exams to become a teacher, police officer, etc.

📝 In Action

Ella está estudiando para la oposición de justicia.

C1

She is studying for the justice department competitive exams.

Aprobar una oposición te da un trabajo de por vida.

C1

Passing a public service exam gives you a job for life.

⭐ Usage Tips

Plural vs Singular

In Spain, people usually refer to these exams in the plural: 'las oposiciones'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: oposición

Question 1 of 2

In Spain, if someone says they are 'preparando oposiciones', what are they doing?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

oponer(to oppose) - verb
opuesto(opposite) - adjective
opositor(opponent / candidate for an exam) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'oposición' always feminine?

Yes, like almost all words ending in '-ción', it is always feminine (la oposición).

Can 'oposición' mean the opposite side of a street?

No, for the physical 'opposite side,' you would use 'el lado opuesto' or 'enfrente'.