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situación

see-twah-see-OHN/sitwa'sjon/

“situación” means “situation” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

situation

Also: circumstance, predicament
NounfA2
A small, simple storybook character standing on a tiny hill, thoughtfully observing a path that splits into three distinct directions, symbolizing a complex set of circumstances.

📝 In Action

La situación económica es un poco complicada ahora.

A2

The economic situation is a bit complicated right now.

Cuéntame la situación, ¿qué pasó?

B1

Tell me the situation, what happened?

Estamos en una situación de emergencia.

B1

We are in an emergency situation.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • la situación actual – the current situation
  • una situación difícil – a difficult situation
  • controlar la situación – to control the situation
  • dependiendo de la situación – depending on the situation

Idioms & Expressions

  • salvar la situación – To fix a problem at the last minute; to save the day.

location

Also: position
NounfB1
A simple, colorful image of a bright red hotel building clearly positioned exactly in the center of a grassy town square, emphasizing its physical location.

📝 In Action

La situación del hotel es perfecta, justo en el centro.

B1

The location of the hotel is perfect, right in the center.

El mapa muestra la situación exacta de nuestra casa.

B1

The map shows the exact location of our house.

Desde esta colina, tenemos una buena vista de la situación de las tropas.

B2

From this hill, we have a good view of the troops' position.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ubicación (location)
  • localización (location)
  • posición (position)

Common Collocations

  • la situación geográfica – the geographical location
  • una buena situación – a good location

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: situación

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'situación' to mean 'location'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
accióncanciónnacióncorazón
📚 Etymology▼

It comes from the Medieval Latin word 'situātiō', which meant 'a positioning' or 'a site'. This word itself was built from 'situs', the Latin word for 'site' or 'position'. So, at its heart, it's all about where something is placed, either literally or figuratively.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: situationFrench: situationItalian: situazionePortuguese: situação

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'situación' and 'circunstancia'?

They are very close and often you can use either one. Think of 'situación' as the big picture (e.g., 'the economic situation'). 'Circunstancias' are often the smaller facts or events that make up that big picture (e.g., 'due to unforeseen circumstances').

Is 'situación' always a serious word?

Not at all! While it can be used for serious topics like emergencies or politics, you can also use it for everyday things. For example, 'Es una situación graciosa' (It's a funny situation) or '¿Cuál es la situación con la cena?' (What's the situation with dinner?).