Spanish word

observación

Pronunciation

IPA/oβseɾβaˈθjon/

Meaning

  • feminine nounobservation

Example

La observación de las aves requiere paciencia.

Observation of birds requires patience.

Illustration for observación (observation)

More examples

Hice una observación en el parque sobre las mariposas.

I made an observation in the park about butterflies.

Core concept

Close, systematic watching and note-taking of people, objects, or events.

Common phrases

  • hacer una observación

    make an observation

  • una observación detallada

    a detailed observation

  • resultado de la observación

    result of the observation

Similar words

opinión: Expresses a personal judgment or belief about something.
comentario: Makes a brief remark stating a noticed point or casual impression.
percepción: Forms an impression or awareness based on sensory input or past experience.
descripción: Describes the characteristics or appearance of a thing or event.

Definition in Spanish

Proceso de examinación atenta de personas, objetos o hechos para obtener información o emitir una nota descriptiva u opinión breve.

Word origin

Formed from Latin observare ('to watch') plus the noun-forming suffix -ción, yielding 'the act or result of observing'.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often assume observación is only a formal scientific report, but in everyday Spanish it frequently means 'a comment' or 'remark'.

Other meanings

  • remarknoun

Opposites

  • omisiónomissionnoun
  • desatencióninattentionnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word