Inklingo

How to Say "topic" in Spanish

English → Spanish

tema

/TEH-mah//ˈte.ma/

NounA2General
Use 'tema' for the subject of a general conversation, a meeting agenda, or a presentation.
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.

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/Formal
Choose 'asunto' when referring to the subject of an email, a letter, or a matter that needs attention or resolution.
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).

sujeto

soo-HEH-toh/suˈxeto/

NounB1Academic/Grammatical
Use 'sujeto' specifically when talking about the grammatical subject of a sentence in linguistics or grammar.
A happy brown dog actively chasing a bright red ball across a green field, illustrating the actor in a sentence.

Examples

En la frase 'Ella canta', el sujeto es 'Ella'.

In the sentence 'She sings,' the subject is 'She'.

El sujeto de nuestra discusión de hoy es la economía.

The subject of our discussion today is the economy.

Identifying the Subject

The 'sujeto' is the person or thing performing the action of the verb. Even if it's not explicitly written, Spanish verbs often tell you who the subject is (e.g., 'Canto' already means 'I sing').

materia

/mah-TEH-reeah//maˈteɾja/

NounB2Formal/Academic
Opt for 'materia' when referring to a broad area of knowledge, a field of study, or a specific domain of concern.
Two figures sitting at a table engaged in a conversation, focused on a centrally hovering, brightly glowing lightbulb, symbolizing a topic or idea.

Examples

El presidente es la máxima autoridad en materia de seguridad nacional.

The president is the highest authority on the topic of national security.

El cobre es una materia prima esencial para la industria electrónica.

Copper is an essential raw material for the electronics industry.

Fixed Phrase Usage

This meaning is often found in the fixed phrase 'en materia de...' (in the area of...), which introduces the topic being discussed in a formal setting.

Tema vs. Asunto

Learners often confuse 'tema' and 'asunto'. Remember that 'tema' is for general discussions and meetings, while 'asunto' is more commonly used for the subject line of an email or a specific issue being handled.

Related Translations

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