Spanish word

referéndum

Pronunciation

IPA/refeˈɾendum/

Meaning

  • masculine nounreferendum

Example

Mañana habrá un referéndum en todo el país.

Tomorrow there will be a referendum across the country.

Illustration for referéndum (referendum)

More examples

El partido anunció que va a convocar un referéndum sobre la reforma.

The party announced that it will convene a referendum on the reform.

Core concept

A ballot in which citizens directly decide a specific public issue.

Common phrases

  • convocar un referéndum

    convene a referendum

  • celebrar un referéndum

    hold a referendum

  • votar en un referéndum

    vote in a referendum

Similar words

plebiscito: Nationwide vote expressing approval or rejection of a major policy or government act.
consulta: Government or municipal vote to check residents' views, typically consultative and nonbinding.
votación: Act of casting and counting ballots to determine the result of an election or collective decision.

Definition in Spanish

Proceso de votación en el que la población decide directamente sobre una cuestión pública concreta, normalmente con opciones como sí o no.

Word origin

Borrowed into Spanish from Latin referendum 'thing to be referred', ultimately from the verb referre 'to report or bring back', applied in modern times to votes submitted to the electorate.

Usage tips

  • Spanish spelling uses an acute accent in referéndum to mark the stressed syllable, a feature English speakers often overlook.

Opposites

Related words

  • referendarsubmit to a referendumverb
  • referendarioreferendum-relatedadjective
  • referendadoratified by referendumadjective

Word lists with this word