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How to Say "essay" in Spanish

English → Spanish

artículo

nounB1general
Use 'artículo' when referring to a piece of writing published in a newspaper, magazine, or online, similar to an article.

Examples

El periódico publicó un artículo interesante sobre la historia local.

The newspaper published an interesting article about local history.

ensayo

en-SIGH-yo/enˈsaʝo/

nounB1academic/literary
Choose 'ensayo' when you mean a formal piece of writing for academic purposes, like a school assignment, or a more personal, exploratory written piece.
A thick stack of white papers resting on a wooden desk, symbolizing a completed piece of writing. A fountain pen lies across the top sheet.

Examples

Tuve que escribir un ensayo para la clase de literatura sobre el simbolismo en la novela.

I had to write an essay for literature class about the symbolism in the novel.

Mi profesor de historia nos pidió escribir un ensayo sobre la Revolución Francesa.

My history professor asked us to write an essay about the French Revolution.

El ensayo de ese autor es muy influyente en la filosofía moderna.

That author's essay is very influential in modern philosophy.

Masculine Noun Rule

Even though 'ensayo' ends in 'o', which usually means it's masculine, remember that all nouns referring to written pieces of this type are masculine, so you must use 'el' or 'un' before it.

Confusing with 'Test'

Mistake: “Using 'ensayo' when you mean a short quiz or school test ('examen' or 'prueba').”

Correction: Use 'ensayo' only for the long-form written work or the 'rehearsal' meaning. For a quick school test, use 'examen' or 'prueba'.

Article vs. Essay

The most common mistake is using 'artículo' for academic essays. Remember that 'ensayo' is the specific word for school assignments or more formal, analytical written works, while 'artículo' is for published journalistic or informational pieces.

Related Translations

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