vacación
“vacación” means “vacation” in Spanish (a period of rest from work or school).
vacation, holiday
Also: break, time off
📝 In Action
Tengo una semana de vacación pendiente.
A1I have one week of vacation pending.
El derecho a la vacación pagada es fundamental.
B1The right to paid vacation is fundamental.
Es mi último día de vacación antes de volver a la oficina.
A2It is my last day of vacation before returning to the office.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: vacación
Question 1 of 3
Which form is most common when telling a friend 'I am on vacation'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'vacatio,' which meant 'freedom from duty' or 'being empty/available.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'vacación' and 'feriado' the same thing?
Not quite. 'Vacación' refers to your personal time off from work or school, while 'feriado' is a public or national holiday (like Christmas or Independence Day) where everything is closed.
Can I use 'vacación' for a weekend trip?
Usually, for a short weekend trip, people say 'una escapada' (a getaway) or 'un viaje' (a trip). 'Vacaciones' usually implies a longer period of rest.
Why do Spanish speakers use the plural 'vacaciones' so much?
It is a linguistic habit called a 'plurale tantum,' where some words just feel more natural in their plural form to describe a single concept, much like how English uses 'glasses' or 'pants.'