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A bright red arrow flying directly and purposefully towards the center of a large, yellow and blue bullseye target painted on a plain wall.

propósito

proh-POH-see-toh

nounmA2
purpose?reason for existence or action,intention?what someone plans to do
Also:aim?a goal to achieve,objective?a target

📝 In Action

¿Cuál es tu propósito en la vida?

A2

What is your purpose in life?

Mi propósito para el próximo año es hacer más ejercicio.

A2

My resolution/goal for next year is to exercise more.

Hizo un esfuerzo con el propósito de mejorar sus notas.

B1

He made an effort with the intention of improving his grades.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • intención (intention)
  • objetivo (objective)
  • meta (goal, finish line)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • Propósito de Año Nuevo – New Year's Resolution
  • Con el propósito de – With the aim of
  • Tener un propósito – To have a purpose

Idioms & Expressions

  • A propósito – On purpose (deliberately)
  • A propósito (de algo) – By the way; incidentally (used to change topic in conversation)

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'Con el Propósito'

You often combine 'propósito' with the word 'con' (with) to explain why you are doing something: 'con el propósito de [verb]' (with the aim of [doing something]).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Accidentally Changing Topic

Mistake: "Using 'a propósito' when you mean 'on purpose' but accidentally sounding like you are changing the subject."

Correction: If you mean 'on purpose,' make sure the context is clear. The other meaning, 'by the way,' is very common for interrupting or starting a new thought.

⭐ Usage Tips

Resolutions

When talking about promises you make to yourself (like for January 1st), the common Spanish phrase is 'propósito de Año Nuevo'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: propósito

Question 1 of 1

If you want to say you did something intentionally, which phrase should you use?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

proponer(to propose, to suggest) - verb
proponerse(to intend, to resolve to do something) - verb
propuesta(proposal, suggestion) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I say 'By the way' using 'propósito'?

Use the phrase 'A propósito' (pronounced ah proh-POH-see-toh) at the start of your sentence to introduce a new, unrelated topic in a casual conversation.

Is 'propósito' used for personal goals or professional goals?

Both! It works for big life goals ('el propósito de la vida') and for smaller, personal resolutions ('un propósito de ejercicio'). For very specific, quantifiable work targets, 'objetivo' is sometimes preferred, but 'propósito' is always understood.