How to Say "to decree" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to decree” is “decretar” — use 'decretar' for official orders issued by a government or governing authority, especially for laws, decrees, or states of emergency..
decretar
/deh-creh-TAR//de.kɾe.ˈtaɾ/
Examples
El gobierno decretó nuevas medidas económicas para combatir la inflación.
The government decreed new economic measures to combat inflation.
El presidente decretó el estado de emergencia ayer.
The president decreed a state of emergency yesterday.
El juez decretó que el juicio se detuviera.
The judge ordered that the trial be stopped.
Es probable que el gobierno decrete nuevas leyes este mes.
It is likely that the government will decree new laws this month.
Using 'que' after 'decretar'
When an authority orders someone to do something using 'decretar que', the following verb must change into the 'wish/command' form (subjunctive). For example: 'Decretó que se hiciera' (He ordered that it be done).
The 'Passive Se' with Decretar
In news headlines, you will often see 'Se decretó...' which means 'It was decreed...' or 'They decreed...'. It is a common way to talk about the action without focusing on who did it.
Using it for casual decisions
Mistake: “Decreté ir al cine con mis amigos.”
Correction: Decidí ir al cine con mis amigos. Use 'decretar' for serious, official, or very firm declarations, not casual choices.
dictar
/deek-TAR//dikˈtaɾ/
Examples
El profesor dictó las instrucciones para el examen final.
The professor dictated the instructions for the final exam.
El juez dictó la sentencia esta mañana.
The judge handed down the sentence this morning.
El gobierno dictó nuevas leyes para el tráfico.
The government issued new laws for traffic.
No dejes que otros dicten tu destino.
Don't let others dictate your destiny.
Abstract Authority
You can use this word when talking about feelings or intuition 'ruling' your actions, just like a judge rules a case (e.g., 'lo que dicte el corazón').
Decretar vs. Dictar
Related Translations
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