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tópico

TOH-pee-kohˈtopiko

“tópico” means “cliché” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

cliché

Also: stereotype, commonplace
NounmB2
A white knight in shining armor riding a white horse to rescue a princess in a tower.

📝 In Action

Es un tópico decir que los españoles duermen la siesta todos los días.

B1

It's a cliché to say that Spaniards take a nap every day.

La película está llena de tópicos sobre los adolescentes.

B2

The movie is full of stereotypes about teenagers.

No quiero caer en tópicos, pero la comida de mi abuela es la mejor.

C1

I don't want to fall into clichés, but my grandmother's food is the best.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cliché (cliché)
  • lugar común (commonplace)
  • estereotipo (stereotype)

Antonyms

  • originalidad (originality)
  • novedad (novelty)

Common Collocations

  • caer en un tópico – to fall into a cliché
  • tópico literario – literary trope
  • lleno de tópicos – full of clichés

topical

Also: local
AdjectivemC1formal
A hand gently applying a small amount of white cream to an arm.

📝 In Action

Esta crema es de uso tópico solamente.

B2

This cream is for topical use only.

El médico le recetó un antibiótico tópico para la herida.

C1

The doctor prescribed a topical antibiotic for the wound.

La anestesia tópica ayudó a calmar el dolor rápidamente.

C1

The topical anesthesia helped soothe the pain quickly.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • sistémico (systemic (affecting the whole body))
  • interno (internal)

Common Collocations

  • uso tópico – topical use
  • aplicación tópica – topical application

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "tópico" in Spanish:

stereotype→topical→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: tópico

Question 1 of 3

If you want to talk about the 'subject' of a book in Spanish, which word should you use?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
tema(topic/subject) — Noun
utopía(utopia (literally 'no place')) — Noun
topografía(topography) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
típicoóptico
📚 Etymology▼

From the Greek word 'topikos,' which means 'related to a place.' In medicine, it refers to a specific place on the body. In language, it refers to a 'commonplace' or a repeated idea.

First recorded: 16th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: topicalFrench: topique

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'tópico' a false friend?

Yes! While it sounds like 'topic,' it usually means 'cliché' or 'stereotype' in Spanish. Only in medical contexts does it align with the English 'topical'.

How do I say 'That's a popular topic'?

You should say 'Ese es un tema popular.' Using 'tópico' here would make people think you are calling the subject unoriginal or a cliché.

Can 'tópico' be plural?

Yes, 'los tópicos' is very common when talking about multiple stereotypes or clichés.