Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
County in Spanish: Condado
Condado · noun · kohn-DAH-doh
Condado is the Spanish word for county, an administrative division used primarily in English-speaking countries. In historical context, a condado was the territory governed by a conde (count). When Spanish speakers in the US refer to their local county, they use 'condado.' In Latin American countries, the equivalent administrative unit is typically called 'municipio' since the county system does not exist there.
kohn-DAH-doh
Vivimos en el condado de Los Ángeles.
We live in Los Angeles County.
County in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for county, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| condado | county | kohn-DAH-doh | Default, widely understood |
| municipio | county | functional equivalent in Latin America |
How Native Speakers Use Condado
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
US address
El condado de Miami-Dade tiene una gran población hispana.
Miami-Dade County has a large Hispanic population.
Discussing a US county with a significant Spanish-speaking community.
Government
La oficina del condado procesa los permisos de construcción.
The county office processes building permits.
Dealing with local government.
Historical
En la España medieval, cada condado era gobernado por un conde.
In medieval Spain, each county was governed by a count.
Discussing feudal administrative history.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Condado
Using condado in Latin America
Incorrect: Vivo en el condado de Monterrey.
Correct: Vivo en el municipio de Monterrey.
Latin American countries do not use the county system. Mexico and most of Latin America use 'municipio' as their local administrative division. Using 'condado' in these contexts would be geographically inaccurate.
Confusing with neighborhood name
Incorrect: El Condado es un condado en Puerto Rico.
Correct: El Condado es un barrio turístico en San Juan.
El Condado is a well-known neighborhood (barrio) in San Juan, Puerto Rico — not an actual county. The name comes from historical usage but today refers only to the district.
Lock in County Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Condado used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using condado in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Vivimos en el condado de Los Ángeles. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About County in Spanish
- Do Spanish-speaking countries have counties?
- Most Spanish-speaking countries do not use the county system. Their equivalent administrative divisions include 'municipios' (municipalities), 'departamentos' (departments, as in Colombia), or 'provincias' (provinces). The term 'condado' is primarily used when referring to counties in the US, UK, or historical European territories.
- Is condado related to conde?
- Condado comes directly from 'conde' (count, the noble title) — a condado was historically the territory that a count governed. This mirrors how in English, 'county' derives from 'count.' The relationship between the words is identical in both languages.
- How do I say county jail or county hospital in Spanish?
- County jail is 'cárcel del condado' and county hospital is 'hospital del condado.' These terms are used primarily in US Spanish, where local government services are organized at the county level. In Latin America, the equivalent would reference the 'municipio' instead.