democracia
nounCEFR B2
What does “democracia” mean in English?
democracy — a system of government based on popular sovereignty and the rule of law
democracy — a system of government based on popular sovereignty and the rule of law (la democracia representativa, los pilares de la democracia, retroceso democrático)
Example sentences
Una democracia que no protege la independencia de los medios de comunicación es una democracia en riesgo.
A democracy that does not protect the independence of the media is a democracy at risk.
La participación ciudadana es la condición de vida de cualquier democracia real, no solo de su legitimidad formal.
Citizen participation is the life condition of any real democracy, not just of its formal legitimacy.
Los ataques a la prensa libre son siempre el primer síntoma del retroceso democrático.
Attacks on the free press are always the first symptom of democratic backsliding.
How to use it
La democracia means 'democracy' — a system of government based on popular sovereignty and the rule of law. At B2 it is a cornerstone of political discourse. Key collocations: la democracia representativa/participativa/liberal, los pilares de la democracia, amenazas a la democracia, una democracia plena/consolidada/frágil. The adjective democrático/a and adverb democráticamente are frequently co-occurring. Especially productive at B2: the idea that democracy requires more than elections — discourse about democratic deficits, backsliding, and quality of democracy.
Common mistake
Democracia (the system and concept) vs república (republic — the constitutional form: España es una monarquía parlamentaria, not a república) vs estado de derecho (rule of law — a component of democracy but not synonymous). 'Democratic' as adjective: democrático/a (not *democratico without accent). In formal writing, la democracia liberal and la democracia representativa are the standard compounds.