Society: Upper-intermediate Spanish vocabulary

32 Spanish words about society at upper-intermediate level. Each entry links to the full meaning, a real example sentence, and usage notes written for English speakers.

• tendencianountendency — an inclination towards a particular characteristic or behaviour
• transicionnountransition — the process of changing from one state to another
• tribunountribe — a social division united by common culture; loosely a group with shared interests
• evolucionarverbto evolve, to develop gradually
• oficialadjectiveofficial — relating to an authority or public body; formally sanctioned
• legaladjectivelegal — permitted by law; relating to the law
• convenciónnounconvention —
• liberaladjectiveliberal — open to new ideas; favouring individual freedom and limited state intervention
• economíanouneconomy
• famanounfame, reputation
• tolerancianounwillingness to accept beliefs, customs or behaviour different from one's own
• paternidadnounthe state of being a father, or the legal/biological relationship between a father and child
• fachadanounthe front, outer wall of a building; especially its main face
• civiladjectivecivil, civic
• fortunanounfortune — a large sum of money
• festivoadjectiverelating to a celebration or holiday or having a joyful, celebratory atmosphere
• democráticoadjectiverelating to or based on the principles of democracy, especially free and fair elections
• domésticoadjectivedomestic — relating to the home/household or to the national/internal sphere
• funeralnounfuneral — the ceremony held after someone's death
• dominanteadjectivedominant — prevailing, exerting the most influence or control
• contagiarverbto pass an illness or infection on to someone else
• comuniónnounthe Christian sacrament of sharing consecrated bread and wine, or the ceremony marking a child's first participation in it
• ruraladjectiverural — relating to the countryside or non-urban areas
• extendidoadjectivewidespread, prevalent — found or distributed over a large area or among many people
• hogarnounhousehold, home — a domestic unit and the place where it lives; also a hearth
• humanidadnounhumanity, humankind — the human race as a whole; also the quality of being compassionate
• instituciónnouninstitution — an established organisation or system, especially in public life
• mayoríanounmajority — the greater number or part of something
• membresíanounmembership — the state of belonging to an organisation
• normanounnorm, standard — an established rule or expected pattern of behaviour
• fenómenonounphenomenon — an observable event or fact; colloquially, a remarkable person or thing
• prestigionounprestige — widespread respect and admiration felt for someone or something