tema
“tema” means “topic” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
topic, subject, theme
Also: issue, matter
📝 In Action
El tema principal de la reunión es el nuevo proyecto.
A2The main topic of the meeting is the new project.
No quiero hablar de ese tema ahora.
A2I don't want to talk about that subject now.
La amistad es un tema central en la novela.
B1Friendship is a central theme in the novel.
song, track
Also: theme
📝 In Action
¿Has escuchado el último tema de este artista?
B1Have you heard this artist's latest song?
Mi tema favorito del álbum es el número tres.
B1My favorite track on the album is number three.
El tema de la película es muy famoso.
B2The theme song of the movie is very famous.
unit, lesson
Also: chapter
📝 In Action
Para el examen de mañana, hay que estudiar los tres primeros temas.
B1For tomorrow's exam, you have to study the first three units.
Hoy vamos a empezar un tema nuevo en la clase de historia.
B1Today we are going to start a new lesson in history class.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: tema
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence is correct?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'thema', which itself came from the Greek word 'théma' (θέμα). The original Greek word meant 'something set down' or 'a proposition for discussion'. You can see how that evolved into our modern ideas of a 'topic' or 'theme'.
First recorded: Around the 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'tema' masculine if it ends in '-a'?
It's a great question! 'Tema' is part of a special group of Spanish words that came from the Greek language. Many of these words end in '-ma' but are masculine. Other common examples are 'el problema' (the problem), 'el sistema' (the system), and 'el idioma' (the language). It's a pattern you can learn to recognize!
What's the difference between 'tema' and 'asunto'?
They are very similar and often interchangeable for 'topic' or 'subject'. 'Tema' often refers to a more defined or central subject of a work, discussion, or study. 'Asunto' can be a bit broader, meaning 'matter' or 'issue', like something you need to take care of ('un asunto personal' - a personal matter).