In 15 Seconds
- A transition phrase meaning 'as for' or 'regarding' specific topics.
- Always followed by a noun or a noun phrase.
- Perfect for shifting focus smoothly during a conversation or email.
Meaning
Think of this as a conversational bridge. Use it when you want to shift the focus to a specific topic or detail you're about to mention.
Key Examples
3 of 6In a business meeting
En cuanto al presupuesto, todavía estamos revisando las cifras.
Regarding the budget, we are still reviewing the figures.
Texting a friend about plans
En cuanto a la cena, prefiero ir al restaurante italiano.
As for dinner, I prefer to go to the Italian restaurant.
Discussing a breakup
En cuanto a mi ex, prefiero no hablar de ese tema hoy.
As for my ex, I prefer not to talk about that topic today.
Cultural Background
Common in formal business meetings.
Use it for structure
Great for organizing long answers.
In 15 Seconds
- A transition phrase meaning 'as for' or 'regarding' specific topics.
- Always followed by a noun or a noun phrase.
- Perfect for shifting focus smoothly during a conversation or email.
What It Means
En cuanto a is your secret weapon for organization. It functions exactly like "as for," "regarding," or "with respect to" in English. Imagine you are talking about a big trip. You've mentioned the flights and the hotel. Now, you want to talk specifically about the food. You say, En cuanto a la comida... and boom—everyone knows the topic has shifted. It acts like a spotlight, shining directly on the next noun you say. It’s clean, efficient, and makes you sound like you actually have your life together.
How To Use It
Using this phrase is incredibly straightforward. You just place en cuanto a right before the noun or concept you want to highlight. You don't need to change the verb form or do any linguistic gymnastics. For example, if you're texting a friend about a party, you might say: En cuanto a las bebidas, yo las traigo. It’s a simple plug-and-play formula. Just remember that if the noun is masculine and singular (like el dinero), the a and el merge to become al. So, it becomes en cuanto al dinero.
When To Use It
You’ll hear this everywhere from boardrooms to brunch. Use it in a meeting to pivot to a new agenda item. Use it when texting to answer one specific question out of five. It’s perfect for when you need to clarify a detail without repeating the whole context. If someone asks, "How is your family?", you might reply generally, then add, En cuanto a mi hermano, él está en Madrid. It shows you are being precise and thoughtful. It’s the linguistic equivalent of a tidy filing cabinet.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this to start a conversation out of thin air. If you walk up to a stranger and say En cuanto al clima..., they will look at you like you've lost your mind. It needs a previous context to "pivot" from. Also, don't confuse it with en cuanto (without the a). Without that tiny a, it means "as soon as," which is a totally different vibe. Saying en cuanto llegue (as soon as I arrive) is great, but en cuanto a llegue is just gibberish. Keep that a strictly for topics, not actions.
Cultural Background
Spanish speakers value flow and structure in conversation. While English speakers might just jump from topic to topic, Spanish often uses these "connectors" to keep the rhythm smooth. En cuanto a is a mark of a "cultivated" speaker. It’s not stuffy, but it shows you’ve moved past basic sentence structures. It’s very common in Spanish journalism and news reporting to transition between different parts of a story. It’s the glue that holds a complex explanation together.
Common Variations
If you want to spice things up, you can swap it for con respecto a (with respect to) or en relación con (in relation to). If you want to be even more informal, you might just use sobre (about) or de. However, en cuanto a sits in that perfect "Goldilocks zone"—not too formal, not too casual. It’s the white t-shirt of Spanish transitions: it goes with everything and never goes out of style.
Usage Notes
This phrase is neutral and versatile. It is essential for B2 learners to master topic transitions in both spoken and written Spanish.
Use it for structure
Great for organizing long answers.
Examples
6En cuanto al presupuesto, todavía estamos revisando las cifras.
Regarding the budget, we are still reviewing the figures.
Used here to move the discussion to a specific financial point.
En cuanto a la cena, prefiero ir al restaurante italiano.
As for dinner, I prefer to go to the Italian restaurant.
Pivots from a general plan to a specific choice.
En cuanto a mi ex, prefiero no hablar de ese tema hoy.
As for my ex, I prefer not to talk about that topic today.
Sets a boundary on a specific subject.
En cuanto a mi gimnasio, mi membresía es básicamente una donación caritativa.
As for my gym, my membership is basically a charitable donation.
Uses the phrase to set up a joke about not going to the gym.
En cuanto al vino, nos gustaría una botella de tinto.
As for the wine, we would like a bottle of red.
Directs the waiter's attention to the drink order.
En cuanto al hotel, las vistas eran increíbles.
Regarding the hotel, the views were incredible.
Focuses on one specific aspect of a vacation.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence.
____ la comida, prefiero la pizza.
Used to introduce the topic of food.
🎉 Score: /1
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
1 exercises____ la comida, prefiero la pizza.
Used to introduce the topic of food.
🎉 Score: /1
Frequently Asked Questions
1 questionsYes, it's fine.
Related Phrases
Respecto a
synonymRegarding
