democrático en 30 secondes
- Democrático is an adjective meaning 'democratic', used to describe systems where people have a voice and equal rights.
- It must agree in gender and number with the noun: democrático, democrática, democráticos, democráticas.
- Commonly used in politics (elections, governments) but also in social contexts (families, workplaces, clubs).
- Do not confuse it with 'demócrata' (the person) or 'demografía' (population statistics).
The word democrático is a foundational adjective in the Spanish language, derived from the Greek roots 'demos' (people) and 'kratos' (power). At its core, it describes anything pertaining to or characterized by democracy—a system where power is vested in the people. While it is frequently used in political contexts to describe governments or elections, its application extends far beyond the halls of parliament. It is used to describe any process, organization, or behavior that values equality, participation, and the collective will over individual whim or authoritarian control.
- Political Context
- In a political sense, it refers to systems that follow the principles of social equality and the right of all citizens to participate in government. For example, 'un país democrático' (a democratic country) is one where citizens vote and have protected rights.
España es un estado social y democrático de derecho.
Beyond politics, the term is applied to social structures. A 'familia democrática' is one where children have a voice in decisions, and a 'liderazgo democrático' in a workplace involves consulting employees rather than just giving orders. This versatility makes it a high-frequency word in media, education, and daily conversation about fairness and rights.
- Institutional Use
- It is used to describe institutions that operate through voting or consensus, such as 'un sindicato democrático' (a democratic union) or 'una asociación democrática'.
El proceso para elegir al delegado fue totalmente democrático.
In modern discourse, 'democrático' often carries a positive connotation of transparency and justice. When someone says a decision was not 'democrático', they are usually complaining about a lack of consultation or an unfair concentration of power. It is a word that bridges the gap between high-level political theory and everyday social interactions.
- Cultural Nuance
- In many Spanish-speaking countries that have transitioned from dictatorships to democracies in the 20th century, the word carries significant emotional and historical weight, symbolizing freedom and the end of oppression.
Debemos proteger nuestros valores democráticos cada día.
Using democrático correctly requires an understanding of Spanish adjective placement and agreement. Generally, it follows the noun it describes, which is standard for descriptive adjectives in Spanish. Because it ends in '-o', it is a four-form adjective: democrático (masculine singular), democrática (feminine singular), democráticos (masculine plural), and democráticas (feminine plural).
- Noun-Adjective Agreement
- The adjective must match the gender and number of the noun. 'Un sistema democrático' (masculine) vs 'Una sociedad democrática' (feminine). Failure to match these is a common beginner error.
Vivimos en una sociedad democrática y abierta.
When describing abstract concepts like 'values' or 'principles', the plural forms are most common. Phrases like 'principios democráticos' or 'normas democráticas' are staples of academic and journalistic writing. It's also important to note that 'democrático' can function as a predicate adjective following verbs like 'ser' or 'parecer'.
- Comparisons and Superlatives
- You can use 'más' or 'menos' to compare the level of democracy. 'Este país es más democrático que el otro' (This country is more democratic than the other).
Buscamos un método más democrático para tomar decisiones.
In more advanced usage, you might see it used to describe the 'opening up' of something previously restricted. For example, 'la democratización de la tecnología' refers to making technology accessible to everyone, and 'un acceso democrático' implies that everyone has an equal chance to use a resource.
- With Adverbs
- It is often modified by adverbs like 'plenamente' (fully), 'verdaderamente' (truly), or 'escasamente' (scarcely). 'Un país plenamente democrático'.
Es un sistema democrático consolidado tras décadas de paz.
If you turn on a Spanish-language news broadcast, you are almost guaranteed to hear the word democrático within the first ten minutes. It is a staple of political journalism, used to discuss elections, legislation, and international relations. Reporters often use phrases like 'el proceso democrático' when covering voting cycles or 'la transición democrática' when discussing countries moving away from authoritarianism.
- In the Classroom
- Students in Spain and Latin America learn about 'educación democrática'—the idea that schools should be mini-democracies where students learn to be active citizens.
La escuela debe fomentar el espíritu democrático entre los jóvenes.
In business settings, particularly in modern startups or cooperatives, you might hear about 'gestión democrática' (democratic management). This implies a workplace where employees are consulted on major decisions, contrasting with traditional top-down hierarchies. In this context, it is a buzzword for inclusivity and employee engagement.
- Legal and Official Documents
- Constitutions throughout the Spanish-speaking world use this word to define the nature of the state. It is a legal term of art that carries specific obligations for the government.
El respeto a las leyes es un pilar democrático fundamental.
Finally, in daily life, if a group of friends is deciding where to eat, someone might say '¡Hagámoslo de forma democrática!' (Let's do it democratically!), meaning 'Let's take a vote!'. This colloquial use shows how deeply the concept is embedded in the culture, serving as a shorthand for fairness and collective decision-making.
- International Organizations
- The UN and the OAS (Organization of American States) frequently use 'democrático' in their Spanish-language charters and resolutions regarding human rights.
La Carta Democrática Interamericana protege la libertad en la región.
The most frequent mistake learners make with democrático is confusing it with the noun/adjective demócrata. While both relate to democracy, they are used differently. Demócrata refers to a person who believes in democracy or a member of a Democratic party. Democrático describes the system, process, or quality itself. You would say 'Él es demócrata' (He is a democrat) but 'El sistema es democrático' (The system is democratic).
- Gender Agreement Errors
- Many learners forget that 'sistema' is masculine despite ending in '-a'. Therefore, it is 'el sistema democrático', not 'la sistema democrática'.
Error: El sistema democrática. Correcto: El sistema democrático.
Another mistake is the placement of the accent mark. Because the stress falls on the 'á', it must have a written tilde. Beginners often omit this, which is a spelling error. Furthermore, some learners try to use 'democrático' as a noun (e.g., 'the democratic of the country'), which is incorrect; you must use 'la democracia' or 'lo democrático' (the democratic aspect).
- False Cognate Confusion
- While 'democratic' and 'democrático' are cognates, be careful when translating party names. The 'Democratic Party' in the US is 'el Partido Demócrata', not 'el Partido Democrático'.
Incorrect: Soy del partido democrático. Correct: Soy del partido demócrata.
Lastly, ensure you don't confuse 'democrático' with 'demográfico' (demographic). Though they sound similar, one refers to voting and equality, while the other refers to population statistics. Mixing these up in a political science essay can significantly change your meaning!
- Pluralization of Compound Nouns
- When describing multiple things, the adjective must be plural. 'Los valores democráticos' is correct; 'Los valores democrático' is not.
Las instituciones democráticas deben ser fuertes.
To enrich your Spanish, it's helpful to know words that are similar to democrático or that can be used to provide more specific meaning. While 'democrático' is the broad term, sometimes you want to emphasize equality, participation, or the rule of law.
- Participativo vs. Democrático
- 'Participativo' (participatory) specifically emphasizes the active involvement of people. A 'presupuesto participativo' is a democratic budget where citizens decide how to spend funds.
- Igualitario vs. Democrático
- 'Igualitario' (egalitarian) focuses on equality of outcome or status. While democracy implies equality of voice, 'igualitario' focuses more on the distribution of resources.
Es un modelo participativo que va más allá de lo democrático tradicional.
In political science, you might encounter 'representativo' (representative). Most modern democracies are 'democracias representativas', meaning we elect people to speak for us, rather than 'democracias directas' where everyone votes on every law.
- Constitucional vs. Democrático
- 'Constitucional' refers to following a constitution. A country can be a 'monarquía constitucional' (constitutional monarchy) and still be 'democrático' if the monarch has no real power.
El orden constitucional es la base de nuestra vida democrática.
Finally, consider 'popular' (of the people). While sometimes used as a synonym in 'soberanía popular' (popular sovereignty), it can also have different connotations in phrases like 'voto popular' (popular vote). Understanding these nuances allows you to speak about governance and society with precision.
- Liberal vs. Democrático
- In political theory, 'liberal' often refers to the protection of individual rights from the majority, while 'democrático' refers to the power of the majority. A 'democracia liberal' combines both.
Debemos defender la democracia liberal frente al populismo.
Guide de prononciation
Exemples par niveau
Mi escuela es un lugar democrático.
My school is a democratic place.
Masculine singular agreement with 'lugar'.
Es un país democrático.
It is a democratic country.
Masculine singular agreement with 'país'.
Tenemos una clase democrática.
We have a democratic class.
Feminine singular agreement with 'clase'.
Votar es un acto democrático.
Voting is a democratic act.
Masculine singular agreement with 'acto'.
Ellos son muy democráticos.
They are very democratic.
Masculine plural agreement.
La decisión fue democrática.
The decision was democratic.
Feminine singular agreement with 'decisión'.
No es un sistema democrático.
It is not a democratic system.
'Sistema' is masculine.
Me gusta el espíritu democrático.
I like the democratic spirit.
Masculine singular agreement with 'espíritu'.
Queremos un proceso más democrático para elegir al jefe.
We want a more democratic process to choose the boss.
Use of 'más' for comparison.
Las elecciones democráticas son el próximo mes.
The democratic elections are next month.
Feminine plural agreement with 'elecciones'.
Nuestra familia es democrática y todos opinamos.
Our family is democratic and we all give our opinion.
Feminine singular agreement with 'familia'.
El club tiene reglas democráticas.
The club has democratic rules.
Feminine plural agreement with 'reglas'.
Es importante vivir en un estado democrático.
It is important to live in a democratic state.
Masculine singular agreement with 'estado'.
Los estudiantes piden un consejo democrático.
The students are asking for a democratic council.
Masculine singular agreement with 'consejo'.
Elegimos el destino de forma democrática.
We chose the destination in a democratic way.
Adjective modifying the noun phrase 'forma'.
No me parece un método muy democrático.
It doesn't seem like a very democratic method to me.
Masculine singular agreement with 'método'.
Debemos defender los valores democráticos de nuestra sociedad.
We must defend the democratic values of our society.
Masculine plural agreement with 'valores'.
Espero que el nuevo gobierno sea realmente democrático.
I hope the new government is truly democratic.
Subjunctive mood 'sea'.
La participación ciudadana es clave en un sistema democrático.
Citizen participation is key in a democratic system.
Masculine singular agreement with 'sistema'.
No todos los países que dicen ser democráticos lo son realmente.
Not all countries that claim to be democratic truly are.
Use of 'lo son' to refer back to the adjective.
El debate fue muy democrático y todos pudieron hablar.
The debate was very democratic and everyone was able to speak.
Masculine singular agreement with 'debate'.
Buscamos una solución democrática a este conflicto.
We are looking for a democratic solution to this conflict.
Feminine singular agreement with 'solución'.
Las instituciones democráticas deben ser transparentes.
Democratic institutions must be transparent.
Feminine plural agreement with 'instituciones'.
Su estilo de liderazgo es poco democrático.
His leadership style is not very democratic.
Masculine singular agreement with 'estilo'.
La transición hacia un régimen democrático fue larga y difícil.
The transition toward a democratic regime was long and difficult.
Masculine singular agreement with 'régimen'.
Existe un consenso democrático sobre la importancia de la educación.
There is a democratic consensus on the importance of education.
Masculine singular agreement with 'consenso'.
El respeto a las minorías es un principio democrático fundamental.
Respect for minorities is a fundamental democratic principle.
Masculine singular agreement with 'principio'.
Muchos critican el déficit democrático de la Unión Europea.
Many criticize the democratic deficit of the European Union.
Masculine singular agreement with 'déficit'.
La libertad de prensa es esencial para un orden democrático.
Freedom of the press is essential for a democratic order.
Masculine singular agreement with 'orden'.
Las normas democráticas impiden que el poder se concentre en una sola persona.
Democratic norms prevent power from being concentrated in a single person.
Feminine plural agreement with 'normas'.
Es un país plenamente democrático con una justicia independiente.
It is a fully democratic country with an independent justice system.
Adverb 'plenamente' modifying the adjective.
El golpe de estado rompió el hilo democrático del país.
The coup d'état broke the democratic thread of the country.
Metaphorical use with 'hilo'.
La legitimidad democrática emana de la voluntad del pueblo.
Democratic legitimacy emanates from the will of the people.
Feminine singular agreement with 'legitimidad'.
Debemos cuestionar si este algoritmo es verdaderamente democrático.
We must question if this algorithm is truly democratic.
Applying the concept to technology.
La erosión de los pilares democráticos preocupa a los analistas.
The erosion of democratic pillars worries analysts.
Masculine plural agreement with 'pilares'.
El pluralismo político es un requisito para un sistema democrático sano.
Political pluralism is a requirement for a healthy democratic system.
Masculine singular agreement with 'sistema'.
Se requiere una reforma para garantizar un acceso democrático a la cultura.
A reform is required to guarantee democratic access to culture.
Masculine singular agreement with 'acceso'.
La alternancia en el poder es un signo de vigor democrático.
The alternation in power is a sign of democratic vigor.
Masculine singular agreement with 'vigor'.
La constitución establece un marco democrático para la convivencia.
The constitution establishes a democratic framework for coexistence.
Masculine singular agreement with 'marco'.
El activismo digital ha transformado el espacio democrático contemporáneo.
Digital activism has transformed the contemporary democratic space.
Masculine singular agreement with 'espacio'.
La arquitectura democrática del estado se basa en la división de poderes.
The democratic architecture of the state is based on the separation of powers.
Metaphorical use of 'arquitectura'.
Cualquier asomo de autoritarismo pone en jaque el orden democrático.
Any hint of authoritarianism puts the democratic order at risk.
Idiomatic expression 'poner en jaque'.
La dialéctica entre lo tecnocrático y lo democrático marca la política actual.
The dialectic between the technocratic and the democratic marks current politics.
Use of 'lo' to substantivize the adjective.
Es imperativo salvaguardar la integridad de los procesos democráticos.
It is imperative to safeguard the integrity of democratic processes.
Masculine plural agreement with 'procesos'.
La desafección ciudadana es el mayor reto para el sistema democrático.
Citizen disaffection is the greatest challenge for the democratic system.
Masculine singular agreement with 'sistema'.
La soberanía reside en el pueblo, fuente de todo poder democrático.
Sovereignty resides in the people, the source of all democratic power.
Masculine singular agreement with 'poder'.
El discurso demagógico es el veneno de la convivencia democrática.
Demagogic speech is the poison of democratic coexistence.
Feminine singular agreement with 'convivencia'.
Se debate la naturaleza democrática de las instituciones supranacionales.
The democratic nature of supranational institutions is being debated.
Feminine singular agreement with 'naturaleza'.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
— Doing something in a democratic way, usually by voting.
Decidimos el menú de forma democrática.
— A mindset that values participation and fairness.
Tiene un gran espíritu democrático.
— The democratic path or method for change.
Buscamos el cambio por la vía democrática.
— Agreement reached through democratic means.
Llegamos a un consenso democrático.
— The legal or social framework of democracy.
Todo ocurrió dentro del marco democrático.
— Legal protections provided by a democracy.
No hay suficientes garantías democráticas.
— The overall atmosphere of a democratic society.
El clima democrático es tenso hoy.
— The authority given to a leader by voters.
Tengo un mandato democrático que cumplir.
— The shared habits and beliefs that support democracy.
Falta cultura democrática en el país.
— The rules that govern a democratic system.
Debemos seguir las normas democráticas.
Expressions idiomatiques
— To decide something by taking a vote among friends or colleagues.
Vamos a elegir la película democráticamente.
informal— To interrupt the continuous line of democratic rule, often by a coup.
El golpe rompió el hilo democrático.
formal— To threaten or endanger the democratic system.
La corrupción pone en jaque la democracia.
journalistic— Legal measures to protect democratic institutions from being undermined.
Necesitamos un blindaje democrático contra el fraude.
political— A lack of democratic accountability in an organization.
La empresa sufre un déficit democrático.
academic— The 'heartbeat' or current health of a democracy.
El pulso democrático del país es fuerte.
journalistic— A period of sudden democratic reform (like the Arab Spring).
El país vivió una primavera democrática breve.
historical— A long history or strong reputation of being democratic.
Ese partido no tiene mucho pedigrí democrático.
informal/political— A metaphorical place where sacrifices are made for freedom.
Muchos murieron en el altar de la democracia.
literary/poetic— The standard rules and procedures of democratic politics.
Hay que aceptar las reglas del juego democrático.
neutralSummary
The word 'democrático' is essential for discussing fairness, voting, and systems of power in Spanish. Example: 'Un sistema democrático protege los derechos de todos' (A democratic system protects everyone's rights).
- Democrático is an adjective meaning 'democratic', used to describe systems where people have a voice and equal rights.
- It must agree in gender and number with the noun: democrático, democrática, democráticos, democráticas.
- Commonly used in politics (elections, governments) but also in social contexts (families, workplaces, clubs).
- Do not confuse it with 'demócrata' (the person) or 'demografía' (population statistics).
Exemple
Es fundamental mantener un sistema democrático.
Contenu associé
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candidato
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candidatura
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castigar
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