retórica
“retórica” means “rhetoric” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
rhetoric
Also: eloquence
📝 In Action
Aristóteles escribió un libro famoso sobre la retórica.
B1Aristotle wrote a famous book about rhetoric.
El abogado utilizó su retórica para convencer al jurado.
B2The lawyer used his rhetoric to convince the jury.
En la clase de literatura estudiamos figuras de retórica.
C1In literature class, we study figures of speech.
empty talk
Also: hollow rhetoric
📝 In Action
Sus promesas son pura retórica; no hay planes reales.
B2His promises are pure rhetoric; there are no real plans.
Basta de retórica, necesitamos hechos concretos.
C1Enough with the empty talk, we need concrete facts.
rhetorical
📝 In Action
¿Es una pregunta retórica o quieres que responda?
B1Is that a rhetorical question or do you want me to answer?
La técnica retórica que usó fue muy efectiva.
B2The rhetorical technique she used was very effective.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: retórica
Question 1 of 3
If someone asks a 'pregunta retórica', what do they expect?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Greek word 'rhetorike', meaning 'the art of an orator' or 'the art of speaking'. It traveled through Latin as 'rhetorica' before becoming the Spanish word we use today.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'retórica' always a bad thing?
No! In its original sense, it is a neutral academic term for the art of persuasion. However, in politics, it is often used negatively to mean 'fancy words with no meaning'.
What is a 'figura retórica'?
It is what we call a 'figure of speech' in English, like a metaphor or a hyperbole. It's a tool writers use to make their language more interesting.
How do I say 'rhetorical question' in Spanish?
You say 'pregunta retórica'. Note that 'retórica' ends in -a because 'pregunta' is a feminine word.