Inklingo

How to Say "sit-in" in Spanish

English → Spanish

sentada

/sen-TAH-dah//senˈtaða/

nounB1protest
Use 'sentada' for a protest where participants sit down, often in a public space, to make a statement.
A group of diverse people sitting peacefully and closely together on the ground in a public square, demonstrating a non-violent protest.

Examples

La sentada duró cinco horas frente al edificio del gobierno.

The sit-in lasted five hours in front of the government building.

Organizaron una sentada pacífica para pedir mejores salarios.

They organized a peaceful sit-down demonstration to ask for better wages.

Feminine Noun

Even though it ends in '-a' and comes from a verb, this word is always a feminine noun, so you use 'la' or 'una' before it.

Confusing Noun and Adjective

Mistake:Usar 'sentado' para referirse a la protesta.

Correction: Use 'la sentada' (the protest) for the noun, and 'sentado/a' (seated) for the adjective describing a person.

encierro

/en-SYEH-rroh//enˈθje.ro/

nounB2protest
Use 'encierro' when the protest involves people staying inside a building or enclosed space, often as a form of occupation.
A powerful black bull running down a narrow cobblestone street.

Examples

El encierro en la fábrica fue una medida desesperada de los trabajadores.

The sit-in at the factory was a desperate measure by the workers.

El encierro de San Fermín es famoso en todo el mundo.

The San Fermín running of the bulls is famous all over the world.

Los trabajadores iniciaron un encierro en la fábrica para pedir mejoras.

The workers started a sit-in at the factory to ask for improvements.

Specific Contexts

In Spain, if you say 'el encierro' during July, people will almost always think you are talking about the bulls in Pamplona.

Sentada vs. Encierro

The main confusion is between the general act of sitting to protest ('sentada') and specifically staying inside a building ('encierro'). While a 'sentada' can happen inside, 'encierro' specifically implies confinement within a space.

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