Inklingo

How to Say "legislature" in Spanish

English → Spanish

congreso

kohn-GREH-soh/koŋˈɡɾeso/

nounB1General
Use 'congreso' when referring to the national legislative body of many Spanish-speaking countries, especially in Latin America, or when referring to a congress in a general sense.
A simple illustration showing the interior of a legislative chamber. Rows of seated figures face a central podium where a speaker is standing.

Examples

El congreso aprobó la nueva ley de impuestos.

Congress approved the new tax law.

La sesión del congreso será televisada esta noche.

The parliamentary session will be televised tonight.

El edificio del congreso es un lugar histórico.

The congress building is a historic place.

Masculine Noun Rule

Even though this word refers to a large group of people, it is always a masculine noun ('el congreso'), so use masculine articles and adjectives with it.

parlamento

/par-lah-MEN-toh//paɾlaˈmento/

nounB1General
Use 'parlamento' when referring to the supreme legislative body of Spain or other countries that follow a parliamentary system, or as a general term for a parliament.
A group of people seated in a semi-circle of desks within a grand hall, representing a legislative assembly.

Examples

El parlamento votará sobre la nueva ley mañana.

The parliament will vote on the new law tomorrow.

Muchos ciudadanos se reunieron frente al parlamento.

Many citizens gathered in front of the parliament building.

Using Gender

This is a masculine noun. Always use masculine markers like 'el' (the) or 'un' (a), even if the people inside the parliament are men or women.

Parliament vs. Congress

Mistake:Using 'parlamento' for every country.

Correction: Use 'parlamento' for countries with a parliamentary system (like Spain or the UK), but 'congreso' is more common for systems like the US or Mexico.

Congreso vs. Parlamento

Learners often confuse 'congreso' and 'parlamento' because both mean 'legislature'. Remember that 'congreso' is more common in Latin America, while 'parlamento' is the standard term in Spain and countries with parliamentary systems.

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