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propaganda

pro-pah-GAHN-dahpɾopaˈɡanda

“propaganda” means “advertisement” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

advertisement, commercial

Also: publicity
NounfA2
Latin AmericaSpain
A colorful billboard on a city street showing a refreshing glass of orange juice next to a bright orange fruit.

📝 In Action

Vi una propaganda muy buena sobre ese perfume.

A2

I saw a very good advertisement for that perfume.

Hay demasiada propaganda durante el partido de fútbol.

A2

There are too many commercials during the soccer game.

Me dieron una propaganda de la nueva pizzería en la calle.

B1

They gave me a flyer (advertisement) for the new pizzeria on the street.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • hacer propaganda – to advertise or promote
  • folleto de propaganda – advertising flyer

propaganda

Also: indoctrination
NounfB2
A person standing on a small wooden crate in a public square, holding a megaphone and gesturing towards a crowd.

📝 In Action

El gobierno usa la propaganda para ganar votos.

B2

The government uses propaganda to win votes.

Es difícil distinguir entre noticias reales y propaganda política.

C1

It is difficult to distinguish between real news and political propaganda.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • adoctrinamiento (indoctrination)
  • manipulación (manipulation)

Antonyms

  • información (information)
  • verdad (truth)

Common Collocations

  • propaganda electoral – election campaign material
  • aparato de propaganda – propaganda machine

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "propaganda" in Spanish:

advertisement→commercial→indoctrination→propaganda→publicity→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: propaganda

Question 1 of 2

If you see a commercial for a new car on TV in Argentina, how would you most likely refer to it?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
propagar(to spread/propagate) — Verb
propagación(spreading/propagation) — Noun
propagandista(propagandist) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'propaganda', which means 'things to be spread'. This comes from the title of the Vatican's 'Congregatio de Propaganda Fide' (Congregation for Propagating the Faith) established in the 17th century.

First recorded: 18th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: propagandaItalian: propagandaFrench: propagande

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'propaganda' always have a negative meaning in Spanish?

No! This is a major difference from English. While it can mean biased political information, in many countries it is a perfectly neutral word for a simple advertisement or commercial.

What's the difference between 'publicidad' and 'propaganda'?

Strictly speaking, 'publicidad' refers to commercial selling, while 'propaganda' refers to spreading ideas. However, in daily life, especially in Latin America, they are often used as exact synonyms for advertisements.