Inklingo

How to Say "theme" in Spanish

English → Spanish

tema

/TEH-mah//ˈte.ma/

NounA2/B1General
Use 'tema' for the main topic of a meeting, discussion, party, or movie, or for a song by an artist.
Two simplified cartoon characters sitting at a small table, both looking intently at a single, brightly colored, stylized apple placed in the center of the table, representing the focus of their conversation.

Examples

El tema principal de la reunión es el nuevo proyecto.

The main topic of the meeting is the new project.

No quiero hablar de ese tema ahora.

I don't want to talk about that subject now.

La amistad es un tema central en la novela.

Friendship is a central theme in the novel.

¿Has escuchado el último tema de este artista?

Have you heard this artist's latest song?

Masculine Nouns Ending in '-a'

Surprise! Even though 'tema' ends in '-a', it's a masculine word. You always say 'el tema' or 'un tema'. This is common for words that originally came from the Greek language, like 'problema', 'idioma', and 'mapa'.

Using the Wrong Gender

Mistake: “Me interesa *la tema* de la película.”

Correction: Me interesa *el tema* de la película. Remember, 'tema' is masculine, so it needs 'el', not 'la'.

asunto

/ah-SOON-toh//aˈsunto/

NounA2General
Use 'asunto' specifically for the subject line of an email or a matter of discussion.
Two characters discussing a topic, symbolized by a floating lightbulb icon above one speaker's head.

Examples

El asunto del correo electrónico era 'Reunión Urgente'.

The subject of the email was 'Urgent Meeting'.

Cambiemos de asunto, por favor. No quiero hablar de eso.

Let's change the subject, please. I don't want to talk about that.

El asunto principal de la clase de hoy es el medio ambiente.

The main topic of today's class is the environment.

Confusing with 'Sujeto'

Mistake: “Using 'sujeto' for the topic of a conversation. 'Sujeto' usually means a person or the subject of a sentence in grammar.”

Correction: For the topic of an email, book, or conversation, always use 'asunto' or 'tema'. For example, 'El asunto de la película es el amor' (The topic of the movie is love).

argumento

/ar-goo-MEN-toh//aɾɣuˈmento/

NounB1Literary/General
Use 'argumento' when referring to the plot or central storyline of a book, film, or play.
A colorful storybook illustration depicting a winding path that represents a narrative plot, starting at a small house and leading to a castle, symbolizing the beginning, middle, and end of a story.

Examples

El argumento de la novela era tan complejo que me perdí.

The novel's plot was so complex that I got lost.

Necesito saber el argumento antes de ver la película.

I need to know the storyline before watching the movie.

hilo

EE-loh/ˈilo/

NounB2General
Use 'hilo' to describe losing track of the main topic in a conversation or discussion.
Two friendly characters facing each other and talking, visually connected by a single, continuous, brightly colored thread flowing between them, symbolizing the continuity of their dialogue.

Examples

Perdí el hilo de la conversación cuando sonó mi teléfono.

I lost the thread of the conversation when my phone rang.

El hilo de la novela es muy complicado, con muchos giros.

The plot line of the novel is very complicated, with many twists.

Figurative Use

This meaning is very similar to how English uses 'thread' to describe the continuous line of thought in a discussion or story.

motivo

moh-TEE-voh/moˈtiβo/

NounB2Artistic/Literary
Use 'motivo' for a recurring musical or artistic idea, like a motif in a symphony or a visual theme in art.
An easel holds a canvas depicting a large, central, stylized red heart. Smaller, simple decorative elements like tiny stars and leaves are scattered around the heart, emphasizing the heart as the main subject.

Examples

La sinfonía tiene un motivo melódico que se repite en cada movimiento.

The symphony has a melodic motif that repeats in every movement.

El motivo floral domina el diseño de la tela.

The floral design/motif dominates the fabric pattern.

Context is Key

When 'motivo' is used in an artistic context, it refers to the core repeating idea or element that ties the work together.

Tema vs. Asunto

Learners often confuse 'tema' and 'asunto'. Remember that 'asunto' is primarily for email subjects or specific matters, while 'tema' is a broader term for the general topic of a conversation, event, or work.

Related Translations

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