prensa
/pren-sa/
the press
Depicting the collective media, or 'the press' (journalism).
prensa(noun)
the press
?journalism/collective media
,the media
?news outlets collectively
journalism
?the profession
📝 In Action
La prensa estaba esperando al presidente fuera del edificio.
B1The press was waiting for the president outside the building.
Necesitamos hablar con la prensa sobre este nuevo descubrimiento.
B2We need to talk to the media about this new discovery.
Trabaja en la prensa local escribiendo artículos de opinión.
B1He works in the local press writing opinion pieces.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Singular
Even though 'la prensa' refers to many journalists and outlets, it is treated as a single, feminine word, just like 'the media' in English is often treated as singular.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'los' instead of 'la'
Mistake: "Los prensa dijo..."
Correction: La prensa dijo... (The press said...). Remember it is feminine (la).
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking about Newspapers
While 'prensa' is often used for all media, it traditionally and sometimes specifically refers to print media (newspapers and magazines).
Depicting a machine used for squeezing or shaping, known as a mechanical 'press.'
prensa(noun)
press
?a machine for squeezing or shaping
,vise
?a tool for clamping objects
printing press
?historical machine for printing
📝 In Action
El mecánico puso la pieza en la prensa para sujetarla.
A2The mechanic put the piece in the vise to hold it.
Usan una gran prensa para hacer aceite de oliva.
B1They use a large press to make olive oil.
⭐ Usage Tips
Literal Meaning
This meaning is the original, literal sense of the word, referring to anything that applies strong force or pressure to crush or flatten.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: prensa
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'prensa' to mean a physical tool or machine?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the word for the media and the word for the machine the same?
They share the same origin! The media ('the press') got its name because the news and written articles were originally produced using a 'printing press,' which is a large machine used for pressing ink onto paper.
Can 'prensa' ever mean 'pressure' or 'compression'?
Yes, but usually only in technical or regional contexts. When you mean figurative pressure (like social pressure), you should use 'presión' instead. When you mean physical squeezing, 'prensa' or the verb 'prensar' might be used.