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política

poh-LEE-tee-kah/poˈlitika/

“política” means “politics” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

politics

Also: political science, statesmanship
NounfA2
Two simplified figures in formal attire standing across a large table, shaking hands firmly after a governmental discussion, symbolizing agreement in politics.

📝 In Action

La política afecta la vida de todos los ciudadanos.

A2

Politics affects the lives of all citizens.

Estudió política en la universidad porque quiere ser diplomático.

B1

She studied political science at the university because she wants to be a diplomat.

Siempre evito hablar de política en la cena.

A2

I always avoid talking about politics at dinner.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • gobierno (government)
  • asuntos públicos (public affairs)

Common Collocations

  • vida política – political life
  • clase política – political class

policy

Also: strategy, approach
NounfB1
A simplified figure standing at a junction of two paths, pointing emphatically down one specific path, representing a clear course of action or policy.

📝 In Action

La compañía tiene una política de no fumar dentro de la oficina.

B1

The company has a policy of not smoking inside the office.

Vamos a revisar la política de devoluciones antes de comprar esto.

B1

We are going to check the returns policy before buying this.

El gobierno implementó una nueva política social para ayudar a las familias pobres.

B2

The government implemented a new social policy to help poor families.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • norma (rule)
  • directriz (guideline)

Common Collocations

  • política económica – economic policy
  • política de privacidad – privacy policy

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "política" in Spanish:

political science→politics→statesmanship→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: política

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'política' to mean a specific rule, not the general field of government?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
político(politician (male) / political (adjective)) — Noun / Adjective
politiquear(to dabble in politics) — Verb
políticamente(politically) — Adverb
🎵 Rhymes▼
prácticatáctica
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the Latin 'polītica,' which itself originated from the Ancient Greek word 'politikē' (πολιτική), meaning 'affairs of the city' or 'civic matters.' It's essentially about how people organize and govern their community.

First recorded: 14th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: politicsFrench: politiqueItalian: politica

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Frequently Asked Questions

¿Es 'política' lo mismo que 'policía'?

No, they are different! 'La política' means the system of government or a rule/policy. 'La policía' means the police force or a female police officer. They sound similar because they both deal with public order, but they are not interchangeable.

If I want to talk about a female politician, should I use 'político' or 'política'?

You should use 'la política' (feminine article 'la' and the feminine noun ending 'a'). For a male politician, use 'el político'.