concreto
adjectiveCEFR B2
What does “concreto” mean in English?
concrete, specific
concrete, specific (clearly defined rather than abstract; en concreto; medidas concretas; nada concreto)
Example sentences
El informe pide medidas concretas para reducir las emisiones, no solo declaraciones de intenciones.
The report calls for specific measures to reduce emissions, not just statements of intent.
En concreto, lo que me preocupa es la falta de transparencia en el proceso de selección.
Specifically, what concerns me is the lack of transparency in the selection process.
Necesitamos datos concretos antes de poder tomar una decisión: las estimaciones no son suficientes.
We need specific data before we can make a decision: estimates are not enough.
How to use it
Concreto/a has two senses at B2: (1) specific/particular — en un caso concreto, medidas concretas, un ejemplo concreto; (2) concrete (the building material — hormigón is more technical, but concreto is used in Latin America for the material). The dominant B2 sense is (1): specific as opposed to general or abstract. Takes ser. Key discourse phrase: en concreto = specifically, in particular (fixed adverbial). Collocations: propuestas concretas, datos concretos, un plan concreto.
Common mistake
Concreto (specific/particular) is often confused with específico (specific — technically/formally specified). In most contexts they are interchangeable at B2, but concreto implies 'tangible and actionable' while específico implies 'technically defined/listed'. En concreto is a fixed discourse marker meaning 'specifically/namely' — very useful in B2 written argument. Don't use *concretamente as a discourse marker in the same way; it exists but is less common in peninsular Spanish.