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orientación

oh-ryen-tah-SYOHNoɾjentaˈθjon

direction, orientation

Also: positioning
NounfB1
A hiker holding a compass and looking at a mountain range to find their way.

📝 In Action

La casa tiene una excelente orientación al sol.

A2

The house has excellent orientation toward the sun.

Perdí la orientación en medio del bosque.

B1

I lost my sense of direction in the middle of the forest.

Usa el mapa para recuperar la orientación.

B1

Use the map to find your way again.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • dirección (direction)
  • posición (position)

Antonyms

  • desorientación (disorientation)

Common Collocations

  • perder la orientación – to lose one's way/bearings
  • orientación norte – north-facing

guidance, counseling

Also: onboarding, orientation
NounfB1
An older teacher sitting with a student, pointing at a map of the stars.

📝 In Action

Necesito orientación profesional para elegir mi carrera.

B1

I need career guidance to choose my degree.

Mañana tenemos la sesión de orientación para nuevos empleados.

B1

Tomorrow we have the orientation session for new employees.

El departamento de orientación ayuda a los alumnos con problemas.

B2

The counseling department helps students with problems.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • guía (guide/guidance)
  • asesoramiento (advice/consulting)

Common Collocations

  • orientación académica – academic counseling
  • orientación laboral – job placement guidance

Idioms & Expressions

  • dar una orientación – to give a general idea or some advice

orientation

Also: tendency
NounfB2
A person standing at a crossroads with many colorful paths leading to different bright landscapes.

📝 In Action

La orientación sexual es una parte fundamental de la identidad.

B2

Sexual orientation is a fundamental part of identity.

El periódico tiene una clara orientación política.

C1

The newspaper has a clear political leaning.

Respetamos la orientación de cada individuo.

B2

We respect the orientation of every individual.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tendencia (tendency)
  • inclinación (inclination)

Common Collocations

  • orientación sexual – sexual orientation
  • orientación política – political leaning

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "orientación" in Spanish:

guidance→orientation→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: orientación

Question 1 of 3

If you are 'perdido' (lost) in a city, what have you lost?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
orientar(to guide/orient) — Verb
orientador(counselor/guide) — Noun
orientado(oriented/facing) — Adjective
desorientar(to confuse/disorient) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
educacióndireccióncanción
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'oriens', meaning 'rising' or 'the east.' It originally meant finding which way was east (where the sun rises) to figure out your location.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: orientationEnglish: orientation

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'orientación' mean 'onboarding' at a new job?

Yes! In a professional context, 'la sesión de orientación' is the equivalent of employee onboarding or induction.

Can I use 'orientación' for a street address?

No. For a street address, you must use 'dirección'. 'Orientación' is only for physical direction (North/South) or guidance.

Is it a formal word?

It is neutral. You can use it in a scientific report, at a business meeting, or when talking to a friend about being lost in the woods.