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How to Say "outlook" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “outlook” is “perspectiva” — use 'perspectiva' when talking about someone's general attitude or their way of viewing things, especially concerning the future..

English → Spanish

perspectiva

per-spek-TEE-vah/peɾspekˈtiβa/

nounB1general
Use 'perspectiva' when talking about someone's general attitude or their way of viewing things, especially concerning the future.
Two cartoon children standing on opposite sides of a large, colorful, L-shaped object. One child sees only a tall rectangle, while the other sees a short, wide rectangle, illustrating differing viewpoints.

Examples

Necesitas cambiar tu perspectiva sobre el problema para encontrar una solución.

You need to change your perspective on the problem to find a solution.

Desde mi perspectiva, la nueva política es injusta.

From my viewpoint, the new policy is unfair.

Tiene una perspectiva muy optimista sobre el futuro de la empresa.

She has a very optimistic outlook on the future of the company.

Gender Check

Even though it ends in '-a', 'perspectiva' is a feminine noun, so you must always use 'la' or 'una' before it: 'la perspectiva'.

Mixing Prepositions

Mistake: “Por mi perspectiva, es mejor así.”

Correction: Desde mi perspectiva, es mejor así. (Use 'desde' [from] when expressing where your viewpoint originates.)

visión

nounB1general
Use 'visión' to describe a general attitude or a broad view, often used when discussing long-term goals or a company's direction.

Examples

Tenemos una visión muy diferente del futuro.

We have a very different perspective on the future.

horizonte

/oh-ree-SOHN-teh//oɾiˈsonte/

nounB2general
Use 'horizonte' when referring to future prospects, possibilities, or the range of what one can achieve or imagine.
A person with a backpack standing on a hilltop looking out at a winding path that leads toward a variety of different colorful landscapes.

Examples

Aprender un nuevo idioma te ayuda a ampliar tus horizontes.

Learning a new language helps you broaden your horizons.

No vemos grandes cambios en el horizonte político.

We don't see big changes on the political horizon.

Using the Plural

When talking about life experiences or learning, we almost always use the plural 'horizontes'.

vista

/BEES-tah//ˈbista/

nounA2general
Use 'vista' when specifically referring to the physical view or scenery one can see from a particular place, like a window or a viewpoint.
A beautiful, panoramic view of a calm blue ocean and distant mountains seen clearly from a large, open window or balcony.

Examples

Quiero una habitación de hotel con vistas al mar.

I want a hotel room with a sea view.

La vista desde la cima de la montaña es espectacular.

The view from the top of the mountain is spectacular.

Este apartamento no tiene buenas vistas.

This apartment doesn't have good views.

Singular vs. Plural: 'vista' vs. 'vistas'

You can use the plural 'vistas' to talk about views, especially when booking hotels. 'Una habitación con vistas' (a room with views) is very common and sounds natural.

Attitude vs. Physical View

Learners often confuse 'perspectiva'/'visión' (attitude/viewpoint) with 'vista' (physical scenery). Remember that 'vista' is only used for what you literally see with your eyes from a location, while the others refer to abstract viewpoints.

Related Translations

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