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A2 noun #4,500 le plus courant 11 min de lecture

facultad

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces facultad en 30 secondes

Explication facultad in your Level:

At the A1 level, the word 'facultad' is introduced primarily as a place. Students learn that a university is made up of different 'facultades'. It is treated as a simple noun, similar to 'casa' or 'escuela'. At this stage, the focus is on the physical building and the basic identity of a student. You might say 'La facultad es grande' or 'Mi facultad está en Madrid'. The goal is to recognize that 'facultad' means a part of a university. We do not explore the complex meanings of 'ability' or 'legal power' yet. Instead, we use it to build basic sentences about daily life and education. It is important for A1 learners to remember that it is a feminine noun ('la facultad') and that it usually refers to where they go to study. For example, 'Estudio en la facultad de medicina'. This level focuses on the most concrete and frequent usage of the word in a student's life. By the end of A1, a student should be able to identify which 'facultad' they belong to and describe its location in simple terms. They should also be aware that it ends in '-tad', which helps them categorize it as a feminine noun, a useful pattern for many other Spanish words they will learn later.

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At the A2 level, learners begin to use 'facultad' in more specific contexts and with more varied sentence structures. They learn to name specific faculties like 'Facultad de Derecho' (Law), 'Facultad de Ciencias' (Sciences), and 'Facultad de Letras' (Arts/Humanities). The vocabulary expands to include common activities associated with the faculty, such as 'ir a la facultad', 'estar en la facultad', or 'salir de la facultad'. At this stage, students also start to understand the distinction between the 'universidad' (the whole institution) and the 'facultad' (the specific school). They might describe their routine: 'Todos los días voy a la facultad a las nueve de la mañana'. There is also a slight introduction to the concept of 'ability', but usually in very fixed or obvious contexts, like 'la facultad de hablar'. However, the academic meaning remains dominant. A2 learners are expected to use the word with correct articles and adjectives, such as 'una facultad moderna' or 'muchas facultades'. They also learn to use prepositions correctly, understanding that 'en la facultad' is where an action happens. This level solidifies the word as a key part of the 'Education' thematic vocabulary block, preparing the student for more abstract discussions in the future.

At the B1 level, the meaning of 'facultad' expands significantly beyond the physical building. Learners are introduced to the word as a synonym for 'capacity' or 'ability' in more formal or semi-formal contexts. They start to encounter phrases like 'facultades mentales' or 'perder las facultades'. This allows them to discuss health, aging, and human nature. In an academic context, B1 students learn the hierarchy: the 'facultad' is led by a 'decano' (dean) and contains various 'departamentos'. They can now explain the administrative structure of their studies. Furthermore, the legal sense of 'power' or 'authority' begins to appear in reading materials. A B1 student should understand a sentence like 'El director tiene la facultad de decidir'. They also learn more complex collocations, such as 'en pleno uso de sus facultades'. This level requires the student to distinguish which meaning is intended based on the context of the sentence. They should be able to write short essays about their university experience or about human abilities using 'facultad' correctly. The word becomes a tool for expressing more nuanced ideas about what a person or an institution is allowed or able to do.

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At the B2 level, students are expected to use 'facultad' with precision and in a variety of registers. They should be comfortable with the word in academic, medical, and legal contexts. In academic writing, they use 'facultad' to refer to institutional bodies and their roles in society. In medical contexts, they can discuss 'facultades cognitivas' or 'facultades sensoriales' with appropriate medical terminology. The legal meaning becomes more prominent, and students learn to use it in professional settings, such as 'otorgar facultades' (to grant powers). They also learn to use the word in more idiomatic or literary ways, such as 'la facultad de la palabra' (the power of speech). B2 learners should be able to debate topics like university autonomy or the ethics of mental capacity, using 'facultad' as a central term. They also learn to distinguish it from similar words like 'potestad', 'atribución', and 'competencia'. At this stage, the learner is not just using the word; they are selecting it over other options to convey a specific level of formality and a precise shade of meaning. Their understanding of the word is now three-dimensional, covering the physical, the biological, and the legal.

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At the C1 level, 'facultad' is used in its most abstract and sophisticated forms. The learner explores the philosophical and high-level legal implications of the word. In legal Spanish, 'facultad' is analyzed in terms of 'facultades reglamentarias' (regulatory powers) or 'facultades discrecionales' (discretionary powers). The student understands the fine lines between having a right, an authority, and a capacity. In literature and philosophy, they encounter the word in discussions about the 'facultades del alma' (faculties of the soul) or the 'facultad intelectiva' (intellectual faculty). C1 learners can use the word to write complex legal or academic reports. They are also aware of the historical evolution of the word from the Latin 'facultas', meaning 'feasibility, opportunity, or resource'. This historical perspective helps them understand why the word is used for university schools (the resources/powers of knowledge). They can use the word in the plural to describe a wide range of human potential. A C1 student's use of 'facultad' is indistinguishable from that of an educated native speaker, demonstrating a deep grasp of its nuances in administrative law, psychology, and academic structures.

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At the C2 level, the mastery of 'facultad' is total, including its most obscure and technical applications. The learner can navigate the most complex legal documents where 'facultades' are defined with extreme precision, such as in constitutional law or international treaties. They understand the word's role in the 'teoría de las facultades' in psychology or philosophy. They can appreciate and use the word in high-level literary analysis, recognizing how authors use the 'facultades' of their characters to drive the plot or explore themes of agency and decay. A C2 learner can also engage in meta-linguistic discussions about the word itself, such as comparing the Spanish 'facultad' with its cognates in other Romance languages or English, explaining the semantic shifts that have occurred over centuries. They use the word effortlessly in speeches, academic defense, and professional negotiations. For a C2 speaker, 'facultad' is not just a word for a university building; it is a fundamental concept that links human ability, institutional power, and the organization of knowledge. They can use it to express the most subtle differences in authority or capability, often using it to elevate the register of their speech or writing to the highest professional and intellectual standards.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

facultad en 30 secondes

A university school or department (e.g., Faculty of Law).
A person's natural mental or physical abilities.
Legal power or authority to perform an action.
A feminine noun ending in -tad, always used with 'la'.

The Spanish word facultad is a multifaceted noun that primarily serves the academic and legal worlds, though it also touches upon the very essence of human capability. At its most common level for Spanish learners (CEFR A2), it refers to a university department or a specific school within a larger university system. For example, if you are studying to be a doctor, you spend your time at the Facultad de Medicina. Unlike the English word 'faculty', which often refers specifically to the group of teachers (the staff), the Spanish facultad encompasses the entire institutional entity: the administrative body, the physical building, the curriculum, and the collective academic community. It is the structural unit of higher education in the Hispanic world. Beyond the campus, facultad takes on a more abstract and profound meaning, referring to the inherent power or ability of a person to do something. This can be a physical ability, a mental capacity, or a legal right granted by an authority. When a person is described as being in 'pleno uso de sus facultades,' it means they are mentally sound and physically capable of making their own decisions. This duality makes the word essential for navigating both administrative bureaucracy and deep philosophical or medical discussions.

Academic Institution: In the context of a university, it is the division responsible for a specific branch of knowledge, such as Law, Arts, or Sciences. It is both an administrative unit and a physical location where classes are held.

Mañana tengo que ir a la facultad de Derecho para entregar mi tesis doctoral antes del mediodía.

Human Capability: Refers to the natural powers of the mind or body, such as the faculty of speech, the faculty of reason, or the faculty of sight. It is often used in medical or psychological contexts.

A pesar de su avanzada edad, el abuelo conserva todas sus facultades mentales intactas y sigue resolviendo acertijos complejos.

Legal Authority: In legal terminology, it represents the right or power given to someone to perform a specific action, such as a manager having the faculty to sign contracts on behalf of a company.

El director tiene la facultad de contratar nuevo personal sin consultar a la junta directiva en casos de emergencia.

Understanding the word facultad requires moving beyond a simple one-to-one translation. While 'faculty' works in some contexts, 'department', 'school', 'ability', 'power', and 'right' are all necessary to capture the full spectrum of its Spanish usage. In university life, you don't just 'go to class'; you 'go to the faculty'. This implies a sense of belonging to a specific academic tradition. Historically, the 'facultades' were the four traditional branches of study: Theology, Law, Medicine, and Arts. Today, the term has expanded to include everything from Economics to Fine Arts, but it retains that sense of being a 'pillar' of knowledge. Whether you are discussing the architecture of a campus, the cognitive health of an elderly relative, or the legal powers of a president, facultad provides the precise vocabulary needed to describe institutional and individual capacity.

Using facultad correctly depends heavily on the preposition that follows it and the context of the sentence. When referring to a university department, the pattern is almost always 'Facultad de [Subject]'. Note that in Spanish, the names of faculties are usually capitalized when referring to the specific institution. For example, 'Estudio en la Facultad de Filosofía y Letras'. If you are talking about the location, you might say 'Nos vemos en la puerta de la facultad'. In this sense, it functions as a concrete noun. However, when the word shifts to mean 'ability', it is often used with the preposition 'para' followed by an infinitive or a noun phrase. For instance, 'Tiene una gran facultad para los idiomas' (He has a great faculty/ability for languages). In legal or formal contexts, the phrase 'tener la facultad de' is common, meaning 'to have the authority to'. Mastering these patterns allows you to transition smoothly from casual student talk to professional or legal discourse.

The University Pattern: Structure: Facultad + de + [Academic Discipline]. Used to identify specific schools within a university.

La facultad de Ciencias Económicas se encuentra en el campus norte, cerca de la biblioteca central.

The Ability Pattern: Structure: Facultad + para + [Infinitive/Noun]. Describes a natural or acquired talent or capacity.

El ser humano es el único animal que posee la facultad de razonar sobre su propia existencia de manera abstracta.

The Legal/Authority Pattern: Structure: Tener la facultad + de + [Infinitive]. Used to denote official power or permission.

El juez no tiene la facultad de modificar las leyes, sino únicamente de aplicarlas al caso concreto.

¿Sabías que la facultad de Medicina de esta ciudad es una de las más antiguas de toda Europa?

In everyday speech, you will most frequently use facultad when talking about your education or the location of academic events. '¿En qué facultad estudias?' is a standard question for university students. In more formal writing, particularly in literature or psychology, you might encounter the plural 'facultades' to describe the state of someone's mind. For example, 'perder las facultades' is a common way to describe the onset of dementia or the loss of physical prowess. In business, 'otorgar facultades' means to grant power of attorney or specific decision-making rights to an employee. By understanding these three distinct 'lanes' of usage—Academic, Biological/Mental, and Legal—you can deploy facultad with the precision of a native speaker, ensuring your meaning is clear regardless of the setting.

In a Spanish-speaking environment, facultad is a word you will hear almost daily if you are near a university or in a professional office. On a college campus, it is the primary way students identify their location. You won't hear students say 'I'm going to the department'; they say 'Voy a la facultad'. This is because in Spanish, 'departamento' usually refers to a smaller administrative subset of a faculty (e.g., the Department of Organic Chemistry within the Faculty of Sciences). Therefore, the facultad is the social and physical hub. You'll hear it in announcements: 'La facultad permanecerá cerrada por festivo'. You'll see it on signs directing traffic or pedestrians. In a medical or legal setting, the word takes on a more serious tone. A doctor might discuss a patient's 'facultades cognitivas' with their family. In a courtroom or a notary's office, the 'facultades' being discussed are legal powers, often appearing in documents like 'poderes y facultades'.

Campus Life: Heard in conversations about classes, exams, and student meetings. It is the default term for the school building.

La cafetería de la facultad de Arquitectura tiene el mejor café de todo el campus universitario.

Medical Consultations: Used to describe the state of a patient's mental or physical abilities, especially regarding aging or recovery.

El neurólogo confirmó que el paciente ha recuperado sus facultades motoras tras varios meses de intensa rehabilitación.

Legal and Notary Offices: Used to define the specific rights granted in a contract or a power of attorney document.

En la escritura pública se detallan las facultades que el dueño otorga a su representante legal para vender la propiedad.

You will also encounter facultad in media and literature. News reports might mention that a government has the 'facultad' to declare a state of emergency. Sports commentators might say a veteran player is 'losing his faculties' (perdiendo facultades) when he can no longer keep up with younger athletes. In literature, it is a classic way to describe human nature, such as 'la facultad de amar' or 'la facultad de imaginar'. Because it spans from the mundane (where is the classroom?) to the profound (what can humans do?), it is a foundational word in the Spanish lexicon. Hearing it in context will help you distinguish whether the speaker is talking about a physical place, a legal right, or a biological capability.

The most frequent mistake English speakers make with facultad is treating it as an exact cognate for the English word 'faculty' in the sense of 'the teaching staff'. In English, we say 'The faculty is meeting today' to mean the professors. In Spanish, if you say 'La facultad se reúne hoy', people will likely think the entire institution (including administrators and perhaps student reps) is meeting, or they might find the sentence slightly confusing. To refer specifically to the group of teachers, the correct Spanish word is profesorado or docentes. Another common error is using 'facultad' when 'departamento' is more appropriate. While 'facultad' is the broad school (e.g., Faculty of Arts), the 'departamento' is the specific subject group (e.g., Department of History). Confusing these two can make you sound imprecise in an academic setting.

Mistake: Using it for 'Staff': Incorrect: Hablé con la facultad sobre mis notas. (Sounds like you spoke to the building or the whole institution). Correct: Hablé con el profesorado / con mis profesores.

No digas 'la facultad' si te refieres solo a los profesores; usa 'el profesorado'.

Mistake: Gender Confusion: Incorrect: El facultad es nuevo. Correct: La facultad es nueva. (Nouns ending in -tad are almost always feminine).

Es un error común pensar que facultad es masculino porque no termina en 'a'. ¡Es femenino!

Mistake: Overusing it for 'Ability': In casual conversation, 'capacidad' or 'habilidad' is often more natural than 'facultad'. 'Facultad' sounds very formal or clinical.

Finally, be careful with the plural 'facultades'. While in English 'faculties' is rarely used to describe a person's health, in Spanish 'estar en sus facultades' is a set phrase. If you translate 'He is in his faculties' literally into English, it sounds strange. Conversely, don't use 'facultad' to mean 'a specific talent' in a casual way like 'He has a faculty for making people laugh'—in Spanish, 'tiene el don de hacer reír' or 'tiene la capacidad de...' would be much more common. Use facultad when you want to sound authoritative, academic, or when discussing the physical structure of a university. Avoiding these false-friend traps will significantly improve your fluency and make your Spanish sound more authentic.

To truly master the use of facultad, you must know its neighbors in the Spanish language. Depending on whether you are talking about education, abilities, or power, different synonyms will be more appropriate. In the academic sphere, escuela is often used for technical fields (e.g., Escuela de Ingeniería), while departamento is used for specialized administrative units. For human abilities, capacidad is the most common all-purpose word, whereas habilidad implies a learned skill. In the realm of authority, potestad or atribución are more specific legal terms. Understanding these nuances prevents you from sounding repetitive and allows you to choose the word that fits the register of your conversation.

Facultad vs. Escuela: In Spanish universities, 'Facultad' is for traditional academic disciplines (Law, Medicine, Philosophy), while 'Escuela' is typically for technical or professional studies (Engineering, Architecture).

Mientras que él estudia en la facultad de Biología, ella prefiere la Escuela de Ingenieros de Caminos.

Facultad vs. Capacidad: 'Facultad' is often an inherent power (like the faculty of reason), while 'capacidad' can be inherent or developed and is much more common in daily speech.

Todos tenemos la facultad de pensar, pero no todos tenemos la capacidad de resolver este problema matemático.

Facultad vs. Potestad: 'Potestad' is a very formal legal term referring to the power one person has over another (like 'patria potestad' - parental authority), whereas 'facultad' is more about the right to do something.

In summary, while facultad is a powerful and versatile word, it is part of a larger family of terms. Use facultad when you want to emphasize the institutional nature of a university school, the biological/philosophical nature of a human power, or the formal granting of authority. Use departamento for small units, profesorado for the people teaching, capacidad for general abilities, and atribuciones for the specific duties of a job. By mapping out these alternatives, you ensure that your Spanish is not only correct but also nuanced and appropriate for the context, whether you're in a classroom, a clinic, or a courtroom.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

In the Middle Ages, 'facultad' referred to the four traditional branches of knowledge: Theology, Law, Medicine, and Arts. This is why we still use it for university departments today!

Guide de prononciation

UK /fəˈkʌlti/

US /ˈfækəlti/

The stress is on the last syllable 'tad' because it ends in a consonant other than 'n' or 's'.

Rime avec

libertad amistad ciudad verdad bondad voluntad dificultad sociedad

Erreurs fréquentes

Stressing the first or second syllable (FA-cul-tad or fa-CUL-tad).
Pronouncing the final 'd' too strongly like a 't'. In most Spanish dialects, the final 'd' is very soft, almost like a 'th' sound.
Confusing the 'u' sound with the English 'u' in 'faculty'. In Spanish, 'u' is always 'oo' as in 'boot'.
Forgetting that the 'a' sounds are always 'ah' as in 'father'.
Making the 'l' sound too 'dark' (velarized). It should be a 'light' l.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Easy to recognize because it looks like 'faculty', but watch for context.

Écriture 3/5

Requires remembering it is feminine and ends in -tad.

Expression orale 3/5

Correct stress on the last syllable is key.

Écoute 2/5

Clearly pronounced, but the final 'd' can be soft.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

universidad escuela estudiar clase poder

Apprends ensuite

decano catedrático asignatura expediente tutoría

Avancé

potestad atribución jurisdicción capacidad jurídica

Grammaire à connaître

Feminine nouns ending in -tad

La libertad, la facultad, la voluntad.

Capitalization of institutions

Estudio en la Facultad de Derecho (specific) vs. Es una facultad pequeña (general).

Preposition 'en' for location

Estoy en la facultad.

Preposition 'de' for possession/type

La facultad de medicina.

Infinitive after 'facultad de'

La facultad de pensar.

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Exemples par niveau

La facultad es muy bonita.

The faculty/department is very beautiful.

Simple adjective agreement: 'la facultad' (feminine) + 'bonita' (feminine).

Yo estudio en la facultad.

I study at the faculty/department.

Use of the preposition 'en' to indicate location.

Mi facultad está cerca de aquí.

My faculty/department is near here.

Possessive adjective 'mi' and the verb 'estar' for location.

La facultad de medicina es grande.

The faculty of medicine is big.

'De' is used to specify the type of faculty.

Hay muchos libros en la facultad.

There are many books in the faculty/department.

'Hay' expresses existence.

La facultad abre a las ocho.

The faculty/department opens at eight.

Present tense of the verb 'abrir'.

Ella camina a la facultad.

She walks to the faculty/department.

'A' indicates direction towards a place.

La facultad no tiene cafetería.

The faculty/department doesn't have a cafeteria.

Negation with 'no' before the verb.

Mañana tenemos un examen en la facultad de derecho.

Tomorrow we have an exam at the law faculty.

Use of 'en' for the specific location of the exam.

La facultad de artes organiza una exposición cada mes.

The arts faculty organizes an exhibition every month.

Present tense describing a routine or regular action.

¿Dónde está la secretaría de la facultad?

Where is the faculty office/registrar?

Interrogative 'dónde' and the specific noun 'secretaría'.

Mi hermano quiere entrar en la facultad de ingeniería.

My brother wants to enter the engineering faculty.

'Entrar en' is the standard phrase for entering a place or institution.

La facultad de ciencias tiene laboratorios modernos.

The science faculty has modern laboratories.

Adjective 'modernos' agreeing with the masculine plural 'laboratorios'.

Nos vemos en la puerta de la facultad a las cinco.

We'll see each other at the faculty door at five.

Reflexive 'nos vemos' for meeting someone.

La facultad de historia es la más antigua de la ciudad.

The history faculty is the oldest in the city.

Superlative construction 'la más antigua'.

Muchos estudiantes protestan frente a la facultad.

Many students are protesting in front of the faculty.

Prepositional phrase 'frente a' for location.

El decano de la facultad pronunció un discurso inspirador.

The dean of the faculty gave an inspiring speech.

Use of the specific academic title 'decano'.

A pesar de su edad, mantiene sus facultades mentales intactas.

Despite his age, he keeps his mental faculties intact.

Plural 'facultades' referring to mental ability.

La facultad de educación ofrece cursos de verano muy interesantes.

The faculty of education offers very interesting summer courses.

Compound noun 'cursos de verano'.

El paciente ha perdido parte de sus facultades físicas.

The patient has lost part of his physical faculties.

Use of 'perder' with 'facultades' to describe decline.

La facultad tiene la potestad de cambiar el plan de estudios.

The faculty has the power/authority to change the curriculum.

'Tener la potestad/facultad de' + infinitive.

Me gusta el ambiente intelectual que se respira en la facultad.

I like the intellectual atmosphere that one breathes in the faculty.

Passive 'se' construction ('se respira').

La facultad de idiomas cuenta con profesores nativos.

The language faculty has native teachers.

Phrasal verb 'contar con' (to have/count on).

Es necesario estar en pleno uso de las facultades para firmar el contrato.

It is necessary to be in full possession of one's faculties to sign the contract.

Fixed phrase 'en pleno uso de las facultades'.

La junta de facultad aprobó el nuevo presupuesto por unanimidad.

The faculty board approved the new budget unanimously.

Collective noun 'junta de facultad'.

El ser humano posee la facultad única de crear arte abstracto.

Human beings possess the unique faculty of creating abstract art.

'Facultad' as an inherent human power.

El gobierno ha otorgado nuevas facultades a las autoridades locales.

The government has granted new powers to local authorities.

Legal use of 'otorgar facultades' (to grant powers).

La facultad de medicina lidera la investigación sobre el virus.

The medical faculty is leading the research on the virus.

Verb 'liderar' describing institutional action.

El estrés prolongado puede afectar seriamente tus facultades cognitivas.

Prolonged stress can seriously affect your cognitive faculties.

Adverb 'seriamente' modifying the verb 'afectar'.

La facultad de filosofía es conocida por su pensamiento crítico.

The philosophy faculty is known for its critical thinking.

Passive construction 'es conocida por'.

No tienes la facultad de entrar en esta propiedad privada.

You do not have the authority/right to enter this private property.

'Facultad' as a specific legal right or permission.

La huelga paralizó todas las actividades de la facultad.

The strike paralyzed all the faculty's activities.

Preterite tense 'paralizó' for a completed action.

La autonomía de la facultad está garantizada por la constitución.

The faculty's autonomy is guaranteed by the constitution.

Complex subject 'La autonomía de la facultad'.

El acusado no estaba en sus facultades cuando cometió el delito.

The accused was not in his right mind when he committed the crime.

Idiomatic use of 'en sus facultades' for legal sanity.

La facultad de juzgar es inherente a la condición humana.

The faculty of judging is inherent to the human condition.

Philosophical use of 'facultad' with an infinitive.

Se le han conferido amplias facultades para negociar el tratado.

He has been conferred broad powers to negotiate the treaty.

Formal verb 'conferir' (to confer/grant).

La decadencia de sus facultades físicas fue un proceso lento y doloroso.

The decline of his physical faculties was a slow and painful process.

Abstract noun 'decadencia' followed by 'de sus facultades'.

La facultad de arquitectura destaca por su diseño vanguardista.

The architecture faculty stands out for its avant-garde design.

Verb 'destacar por' (to stand out for).

El contrato especifica las facultades de representación del agente.

The contract specifies the agent's powers of representation.

Legal term 'facultades de representación'.

La facultad de teología conserva manuscritos del siglo XII.

The theology faculty preserves manuscripts from the 12th century.

Verb 'conservar' meaning to preserve or keep.

La facultad reglamentaria del ejecutivo es objeto de debate jurídico.

The executive's regulatory power is the subject of legal debate.

Technical legal term 'facultad reglamentaria'.

Kant analizó la facultad del juicio en su tercera gran crítica.

Kant analyzed the faculty of judgment in his third great critique.

Philosophical terminology 'facultad del juicio'.

El pleno de la facultad desestimó el recurso presentado por el alumno.

The faculty plenary dismissed the appeal filed by the student.

Administrative verbs 'desestimar' and 'presentar'.

La erosión de las facultades cognitivas es el mayor reto de la geriatría.

The erosion of cognitive faculties is the greatest challenge in geriatrics.

Metaphorical use of 'erosión' in a scientific context.

Se extralimitó en sus facultades al tomar esa decisión unilateral.

He exceeded his powers by making that unilateral decision.

Reflexive verb 'extralimitarse' (to exceed/overstep).

La facultad de imaginar nos permite trascender nuestra realidad inmediata.

The faculty of imagining allows us to transcend our immediate reality.

Philosophical use of 'trascender'.

El testador debe estar en cabal uso de sus facultades al dictar su voluntad.

The testator must be in full use of his faculties when dictating his will.

Formal adjective 'cabal' (complete/full).

La facultad de ciencias políticas ha sido un semillero de líderes.

The political science faculty has been a breeding ground for leaders.

Metaphorical use of 'semillero' (seedbed/breeding ground).

Collocations courantes

Facultad de Derecho

Facultad de Medicina

Facultades mentales

Pleno uso de sus facultades

Otorgar facultades

Facultad de juzgar

Facultad de hablar

Junta de Facultad

Facultad reglamentaria

Facultad discrecional

Phrases Courantes

Ir a la facultad

— To go to the university building for classes. It is the most common way students describe their daily commute.

Mañana no voy a la facultad porque no hay clase.

Estar en la facultad

— To be physically present at the university department. Used to indicate location.

Llámame cuando estés en la facultad.

Perder las facultades

— To experience a decline in mental or physical health, often due to age or illness.

Mi abuelo está perdiendo las facultades poco a poco.

Tener la facultad de

— To have the right or power to do something. Very common in formal and legal writing.

Usted no tiene la facultad de prohibirme la entrada.

Facultad de letras

— The humanities department. Covers literature, history, and philosophy.

Estudió literatura en la facultad de letras.

Facultad de ciencias

— The science department. Covers biology, chemistry, and physics.

El laboratorio está en la facultad de ciencias.

Uso de facultades

— The exercise of one's abilities or powers. Often used in legal documents.

Lo hizo en el ejercicio de sus facultades legales.

Facultad intelectual

— Mental ability or power of thought.

La lectura desarrolla la facultad intelectual.

Facultad motora

— Physical ability to move and control muscles.

El accidente afectó su facultad motora izquierda.

Facultad de decidir

— The power or right to make a choice.

Solo el jefe tiene la facultad de decidir sobre el presupuesto.

Souvent confondu avec

facultad vs Faculty (English)

In English, this often means the teachers. In Spanish, it means the building or the institution. Use 'profesorado' for the people.

facultad vs Departamento

A department is a small unit inside a faculty. Don't say 'departamento de medicina' if you mean the whole school; say 'facultad de medicina'.

facultad vs Facilidad

This means 'ease' or 'facility' (as in doing something easily), whereas 'facultad' is the inherent power or ability.

Expressions idiomatiques

"Estar en pleno uso de sus facultades"

— To be completely sane and physically capable. Usually used when signing important documents.

El anciano firmó la herencia en pleno uso de sus facultades.

Formal

"Perder las facultades"

— To lose one's touch or ability, often used in sports or for aging.

El delantero está perdiendo facultades; ya no corre como antes.

Neutral

"Facultad de la palabra"

— The gift of gab or the human ability to speak.

El hombre es el único que posee la facultad de la palabra.

Literary

"Dar facultad"

— To authorize someone to do something.

El director me dio facultad para organizar el evento.

Formal

"Facultades del alma"

— The traditional philosophical powers of the soul (memory, will, understanding).

San Agustín escribió sobre las facultades del alma.

Philosophical

"Facultad de pensamiento"

— The ability to think critically or reflectively.

La educación debe fomentar la facultad de pensamiento.

Academic

"Facultad de atracción"

— The power to attract or interest others.

Ese monumento tiene una gran facultad de atracción turística.

Neutral

"Facultades extraordinarias"

— Special powers granted to a leader in times of crisis.

El congreso otorgó facultades extraordinarias al presidente.

Political

"En sus cabales (rel. to facultades)"

— To be in one's right mind (often used alongside 'facultades').

No está en sus facultades, no está en sus cabales.

Informal

"Facultad de adaptación"

— The ability to adjust to new conditions.

Su facultad de adaptación al nuevo clima fue asombrosa.

Neutral

Facile à confondre

facultad vs Profesorado

Both relate to university staff.

Profesorado refers specifically to the group of people who teach. Facultad refers to the administrative body or the building.

El profesorado está en huelga, así que la facultad está vacía.

facultad vs Capacidad

Both mean 'ability'.

Capacidad is more common and less formal. Facultad sounds more biological, inherent, or official.

Tiene la capacidad de correr rápido, pero el ser humano tiene la facultad de razonar.

facultad vs Poder

Both mean 'power'.

Poder is a general verb or noun. Facultad is a specific legal right or a natural ability.

Tengo el poder de hacerlo porque tengo la facultad legal.

facultad vs Escuela

Both are educational buildings.

Escuela is for primary/secondary or technical university schools. Facultad is for traditional academic university schools.

Estudio en la Escuela de Arte, no en la Facultad de Letras.

facultad vs Atribución

Both mean 'assigned power'.

Atribución is usually a specific task given to a job role. Facultad is a broader right or ability.

Es mi atribución revisar los informes, pero no tengo la facultad de despedir a nadie.

Structures de phrases

La facultad es + [adjetivo]

La facultad es grande.

Estudio en la facultad de + [asignatura]

Estudio en la facultad de historia.

Tener la facultad de + [infinitivo]

Tengo la facultad de elegir.

[Persona] mantiene sus facultades + [adjetivo]

Mantiene sus facultades mentales intactas.

Otorgar facultades a + [persona]

El juez otorgó facultades al tutor.

En pleno uso de sus facultades

Firmó en pleno uso de sus facultades.

La facultad reglamentaria de + [entidad]

La facultad reglamentaria del Estado.

Extralimitarse en sus facultades

El policía se extralimitó en sus facultades.

Famille de mots

Noms

facultativo (a doctor or specialist)

facultamiento (the act of empowering)

Verbes

facultar (to authorize, to empower)

Adjectifs

facultativo (optional, or relating to a doctor)

facultado (authorized)

Apparenté

universidad

decano

profesorado

capacidad

poder

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Very common in academic and legal contexts; moderately common in general health contexts.

Erreurs courantes

El facultad de medicina. → La facultad de medicina.
Nouns ending in -tad are feminine. Using 'el' is a very common gender error for beginners.
La facultad está en una reunión. → El profesorado está en una reunión.
In English, 'faculty' means the teachers. In Spanish, it means the institution. Use 'profesorado' for the people.
Tengo la facultad de hablar tres idiomas. → Tengo la capacidad de hablar tres idiomas.
'Facultad' is very formal or biological. For learned skills like languages, 'capacidad' or 'habilidad' is more natural.
Voy al departamento de derecho. → Voy a la facultad de derecho.
In Spanish, 'departamento' is a small office/unit. The whole school is the 'facultad'.
Perdí mis facultades de las llaves. → Perdí las llaves.
Don't use 'facultad' to mean 'possession' or 'location'. It only refers to abilities or institutional departments.

Astuces

Gender Rule

Nouns ending in -tad are always feminine. Remember: La facultad, la libertad, la voluntad. This will help you avoid the most common beginner mistake.

Place vs. People

Always remember that 'facultad' is the place or the institution. If you mean the group of teachers, use 'profesorado'. This makes your Spanish sound much more natural.

Legal Power

In a professional or legal setting, use 'tener la facultad de' instead of 'poder' to sound more authoritative and precise. It shows you have the official right to do something.

The 'Facu' Shortcut

If you are a student, use 'la facu' with your classmates. It’s the standard informal way to refer to your school and instantly makes you sound more like a local student.

Preposition Clues

If you hear 'facultad DE', a subject name is coming. If you hear 'facultad PARA', an ability or a power is being described. This helps you decode the meaning quickly.

Capitalization

Capitalize 'Facultad' when it is part of a specific name (Facultad de Medicina). Keep it lowercase when talking about faculties in general. This is a key rule for academic writing.

Mental Faculties

When talking about elderly relatives, 'sus facultades' is the polite and standard way to refer to their cognitive health. It is less harsh than saying 'su mente' or 'su cerebro'.

Granting Power

The verb 'facultar' is very useful in business. Instead of saying 'dar permiso', say 'facultar a alguien'. It sounds more professional and official in a corporate environment.

Latin Connection

Think of 'facultad' as 'the power to do'. It comes from the same root as 'facil' (easy). A faculty is something that makes an action easy or possible for you.

Campus Hub

In Spanish cities, faculties are often spread out across the city rather than being on one closed campus. Each 'facultad' has its own unique culture, cafeteria, and vibe.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of the word 'FACILITY'. A 'facultad' is a facility (building) where you learn, and it also represents the facility (ease/ability) with which you use your mind.

Association visuelle

Imagine a university building with a giant brain on top. The building is the 'facultad' (place) and the brain represents your 'facultades' (abilities).

Word Web

Universidad Decano Derecho Medicina Capacidad Poder Autoridad Mente

Défi

Try to use 'facultad' in three different ways today: once for a place, once for an ability, and once for a power. For example: 'Voy a la facultad', 'Tengo la facultad de cantar', and 'No tengo la facultad de entrar aquí'.

Origine du mot

Derived from the Latin word 'facultas', which means 'feasibility, opportunity, resource, or abundance'. It comes from the root 'facilis' (easy) and 'facere' (to do).

Sens originel : The ability or power to do something easily or with skill.

Romance (Latin origin).

Contexte culturel

When discussing 'perder las facultades', be sensitive as it usually refers to dementia or serious aging issues.

English speakers often say 'I'm a faculty member'. In Spanish, don't say 'Soy un miembro de la facultad'. Say 'Soy profesor' or 'Soy parte del profesorado'.

La Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la UNAM (Mexico) - Famous for its murals. The phrase 'pleno uso de facultades' in legal thrillers and news. University of Salamanca - One of the oldest faculties in the world.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

At University

¿Dónde está la facultad?
Estudio en la facultad de derecho.
La facultad está cerrada.
Voy a la facultad ahora.

Legal/Business

Tengo la facultad de firmar.
Otorgar facultades legales.
En uso de sus facultades.
Extralimitarse en sus facultades.

Medical/Health

Facultades mentales intactas.
Perder las facultades físicas.
Evaluación de facultades cognitivas.
Recuperar las facultades.

Philosophical

La facultad de la razón.
La facultad de imaginar.
Facultades del alma.
La facultad del juicio.

Daily Life

Nos vemos en la facultad.
La facultad es muy vieja.
Mi padre trabaja en la facultad.
Busco la facultad de artes.

Amorces de conversation

"¿En qué facultad estudiaste tú?"

"¿Crees que los humanos perderemos la facultad de escribir a mano?"

"¿Qué facultad de tu universidad tiene el mejor edificio?"

"¿Te gustaría tener la facultad de volar?"

"¿Conoces a alguien que trabaje en la facultad de medicina?"

Sujets d'écriture

Describe un día típico en tu facultad o lugar de estudio.

Escribe sobre una facultad (habilidad) que te gustaría desarrollar este año.

¿Qué harías si tuvieras la facultad legal de cambiar una ley en tu país?

Reflexiona sobre la importancia de mantener las facultades mentales activas en la vejez.

Compara la facultad de artes con la facultad de ciencias. ¿Cuál prefieres?

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

No, that is a common mistake. In Spanish, 'facultad' refers to the department, the building, or the institutional entity. If you want to talk about the teachers as a group, use 'el profesorado' or 'los docentes'. For example, 'El profesorado de la facultad es excelente'.

It is feminine. You should always say 'la facultad' or 'una facultad'. This is because almost all Spanish nouns ending in -tad (like libertad, amistad, voluntad) are feminine. Adjectives must also be feminine: 'la facultad antigua'.

Use 'facultad' when you want to sound more formal, academic, or medical. It refers to inherent human powers (like the faculty of sight). Use 'capacidad' for general skills or things you've learned. 'Tengo la capacidad de hablar inglés' is better than 'Tengo la facultad de hablar inglés'.

'La facu' is a common slang shortening of 'la facultad' used by students in many Spanish-speaking countries, similar to how English speakers might say 'uni' for university. It is informal and used among friends.

No, 'facultad' is strictly for universities. High schools are called 'instituto' (in Spain) or 'prepa/colegio' (in Latin America). Using 'facultad' for a high school would sound very strange to a native speaker.

'Facultativo' can be an adjective meaning 'optional' (e.g., 'asistencia facultativa'). However, as a noun, it is a formal way to refer to a medical doctor or a healthcare professional, especially in a hospital setting.

You say 'Facultad de Derecho'. Note that we use the word 'Derecho' (Law) and the institution is a 'Facultad'. Similarly, 'Medical School' is 'Facultad de Medicina'.

This refers to someone's mental health and cognitive abilities. It is often used in legal and medical contexts to determine if someone is capable of making their own decisions or if they are suffering from a condition like dementia.

Yes, the verb is 'facultar'. It means to authorize or empower someone to do something. For example, 'El jefe me facultó para firmar los cheques' (The boss authorized me to sign the checks).

Generally, 'facultad' is used for human abilities (like reason or speech). For animals, we usually use 'instinto' (instinct) or 'capacidad', though in a scientific or biological context, you might hear about an animal's 'facultades sensoriales' (sensory faculties).

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