Inklingo

How to Say "diversion" in Spanish

English → Spanish

distracción

nounB1general
Use 'distracción' when referring to a specific activity that is enjoyable and takes up your free time, emphasizing it as a hobby or pastime.

Examples

Mi distracción favorita es la jardinería.

My favorite pastime is gardening.

entretenimiento

en-tre-te-ni-miento/entɾeteˈnjento/

nounB1general
Use 'entretenimiento' when talking about something, like a show or event, that provides amusement or occupies time, often in a passive way, and distracts from work or seriousness.
A colorful illustration showing a child smiling while flying a large, multi-colored kite high above a sunny, grassy field.

Examples

La televisión ofrece una gran variedad de entretenimiento para la noche.

Television offers a great variety of entertainment for the evening.

La industria del entretenimiento genera miles de millones de dólares al año.

The entertainment industry generates billions of dollars a year.

Buscamos un poco de entretenimiento después de un día tan largo.

We are looking for a little amusement after such a long day.

Gender Check: Masculine Noun

Remember that 'entretenimiento' is a masculine noun, so you must always use the masculine article 'el' (el entretenimiento) or the plural 'los' (los entretenimientos).

Confusing Noun and Verb

Mistake: “Me gusta entretener.”

Correction: Me gusta el entretenimiento. (The mistake uses the verb 'to entertain' instead of the noun 'entertainment'.)

Distracción vs. Entretenimiento

Learners often confuse 'distracción' and 'entretenimiento' because both can mean 'diversion'. Remember that 'distracción' usually refers to an active hobby or personal pastime, while 'entretenimiento' is more about passive amusement or entertainment provided by media or events.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.