desarrollo
nounCEFR B2High frequency
What does “desarrollo” mean in English?
development
development (growth and progress in economic, social, or institutional capacity; desarrollo sostenible, países en vías de desarrollo)
Example sentences
El desarrollo sostenible exige que el crecimiento económico no se consiga a costa del equilibrio medioambiental ni de la equidad social.
Sustainable development requires that economic growth not be achieved at the expense of environmental balance or social equity.
El desarrollo de la argumentación en un ensayo académico debe ser coherente, progresivo y respaldado por evidencias.
The development of argumentation in an academic essay must be coherent, progressive, and backed by evidence.
How to use it
El desarrollo means 'development' — the process of growth, progress, or elaboration across many domains: economic, social, personal, technological. It is one of the highest-frequency abstract nouns in Spanish B2 discourse. Key compound collocations: el desarrollo sostenible, el desarrollo económico, el desarrollo personal, el desarrollo de una idea/argumento, en vías de desarrollo (developing, as in developing countries). Important: desarrollo is not merely 'growth' (crecimiento) — it implies a qualitative transformation towards a more complex, mature, or favourable state, not just expansion.
Common mistake
Desarrollo (qualitative development — implies maturation and structural improvement) vs crecimiento (growth — quantitative increase). 'Economic growth' = 'crecimiento económico' when referring to GDP figures; 'economic development' = 'desarrollo económico' when referring to structural change. Don't swap them.