criterio
nounCEFR B2
What does “criterio” mean in English?
criterion — a principle or standard against which something is judged or decided
criterion — a principle or standard against which something is judged or decided (el criterio de selección, los criterios técnicos, a criterio de)
Example sentences
El principal criterio para otorgar la beca no es la nota académica, sino el potencial de impacto del proyecto.
The main criterion for awarding the scholarship is not the academic grade but the project's potential impact.
Los criterios de admisión deben ser transparentes y aplicarse de forma consistente a todos los candidatos.
Admission criteria must be transparent and applied consistently to all candidates.
A criterio del jurado, la obra que mejor refleja el espíritu del concurso recibirá el primer premio.
At the jury's discretion, the work that best reflects the spirit of the competition will receive first prize.
How to use it
El criterio means 'criterion' — a principle or standard against which something is judged or decided. At B2 it is a high-frequency academic and analytical noun: el criterio de selección/evaluación/admisión, los criterios técnicos, bajo ese criterio, a criterio de (at the discretion of). The plural is criterios (not *criterias — the Spanish plural does not follow the Greek -a pattern). Key distinction from parámetro (parameter — a quantifiable variable) and requisito (requirement — a necessary condition that must be met).
Common mistake
Plural: los criterios (not *los criterias — this is a common hypercorrection because English uses 'criteria' as plural of 'criterion'). In Spanish, criterio/criterios is the only form. Criterio (evaluative standard) vs requisito (requirement that must be satisfied: el requisito de experiencia) vs condición (condition: una condición sine qua non). 'At the teacher's discretion' = a criterio del profesor (not *según el criterio del profesor, though that is also used).