situación
/see-twah-see-OHN/
situation
This image illustrates 'situación' as the general state of affairs or a set of circumstances that require decision-making.
situación(Noun)
situation
?General state of affairs
circumstance
?The conditions affecting something
,predicament
?When talking about a difficult situation
📝 In Action
La situación económica es un poco complicada ahora.
A2The economic situation is a bit complicated right now.
Cuéntame la situación, ¿qué pasó?
B1Tell me the situation, what happened?
Estamos en una situación de emergencia.
B1We are in an emergency situation.
💡 Grammar Points
It's a Feminine Noun
Words ending in '-ción' in Spanish are almost always feminine. So, it's always 'la situación' (the situation) or 'una situación' (a situation).
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Situación' vs. 'Sitio'
Mistake: "Using 'sitio' to talk about a state of affairs. For example: 'El sitio en mi trabajo es malo.'"
Correction: Use 'situación' for circumstances. 'La situación en mi trabajo es mala.' (The situation at my job is bad). 'Sitio' means a physical place or a website.
⭐ Usage Tips
Your Go-To for 'What's Going On'
This is the perfect word to describe the general state of things, whether you're talking about work, your personal life, or world events.
When referring to the physical placement of something, 'situación' translates to 'location' or 'position'.
situación(Noun)
location
?The physical place of something
position
?The placement of an object or person
📝 In Action
La situación del hotel es perfecta, justo en el centro.
B1The location of the hotel is perfect, right in the center.
El mapa muestra la situación exacta de nuestra casa.
B1The map shows the exact location of our house.
Desde esta colina, tenemos una buena vista de la situación de las tropas.
B2From this hill, we have a good view of the troops' position.
⭐ Usage Tips
More Formal Than 'Lugar'
For everyday talk, you might just say 'lugar' (place). 'Situación' sounds a bit more formal or technical when you're talking about the specific placement of something, like on a map or in real estate.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: situación
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'situación' to mean 'location'?
📚 More Resources
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?).