Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
DECISION in Spanish: DECISIÓN
Decisión · noun · deh-see-SYOHN
Decisión is one of those satisfying cognates that looks and sounds similar in both languages, differing mainly in the accent mark and pronunciation. Spanish places the stress on the final syllable with a crisp -SYOHN ending, unlike the English deh-SIH-zhun. The word pairs naturally with the verb tomar (to take), forming the essential phrase tomar una decisión, which is the standard way to say to make a decision in Spanish.
deh-see-SYOHN
Tomar esa decisión no fue fácil para nadie.
Making that decision was not easy for anyone.
Decision in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for decision, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| decisión | decision | deh-see-SYOHN | Default, widely understood |
| determinación | decision | formal, emphasizes resolve |
How Native Speakers Use Decisión
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Life choice
La decisión de mudarnos a otro país cambió nuestras vidas.
The decision to move to another country changed our lives.
A significant life decision described in past tense.
Business meeting
El comité tomará una decisión sobre el presupuesto esta semana.
The committee will make a decision about the budget this week.
Uses the future tense of tomar una decisión.
Personal dilemma
Necesito más tiempo para pensar antes de tomar una decisión.
I need more time to think before making a decision.
Shows the common tomar una decisión construction.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Decisión
Using hacer instead of tomar
Incorrect: Voy a hacer una decisión importante.
Correct: Voy a tomar una decisión importante.
Spanish uses tomar (to take) with decisión, not hacer (to make), which is a direct translation from English that sounds unnatural in Spanish.
Missing the accent
Incorrect: Fue una decision difícil.
Correct: Fue una decisión difícil.
Without the accent mark on the o, the stress shifts and the word looks unfinished; decisión requires the tilde to maintain correct pronunciation and spelling.
Lock in Decision 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 Decisión used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using decisión in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Tomar esa decisión no fue fácil para nadie. 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 Decision in Spanish
- Why do Spanish speakers say 'tomar una decisión' instead of 'hacer una decisión'?
- Spanish collocations do not always mirror English ones; tomar (to take) is the established verb that pairs with decisión, just as English says to take a shower while Spanish says darse una ducha, each language having its own natural pairings.
- How do I say 'to decide' in Spanish?
- The verb form is decidir, a regular -ir verb, as in Decidí estudiar español meaning I decided to study Spanish.
- What is a more formal synonym for decisión?
- Determinación carries a more formal and resolute tone, suggesting firm determination, and resolución is used in legal and official contexts for a formal decision or ruling.