Spanish vocabulary · Intermediate
How to Say Development in Spanish: Desarrollo
Desarrollo · noun (masculine) · deh-sah-RROH-yoh
Development in Spanish is desarrollo, a masculine noun used for economic growth, software development, personal growth, and any process of advancement or progress.
Desarrollo is pronounced deh-sah-RROH-yoh, with the rolled double-R and stress on the third syllable.
El desarrollo económico del país ha sido impresionante.
The country's economic development has been impressive.
Development in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for development, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| desarrollo | development | deh-sah-RROH-yoh | Default, widely understood |
| desenvolvimiento | development | formal/academic contexts |
How Native Speakers Use Desarrollo
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Economic context
Este programa promueve el desarrollo sostenible en comunidades rurales.
This program promotes sustainable development in rural communities.
Development aid terminology.
Software industry
Trabajo en desarrollo de software para una empresa tecnológica.
I work in software development for a tech company.
Professional career description.
Child development
El desarrollo cognitivo del niño es normal para su edad.
The child's cognitive development is normal for his age.
Pediatric or educational setting.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Desarrollo
False cognate with develop
Incorrect: El desarollo del nuevo producto.
Correct: El desarrollo del nuevo producto.
The correct spelling has double-R: desarrollo, not desarollo.
Confusing with urbanización
Incorrect: Compré una casa en el desarrollo residencial.
Correct: Compré una casa en la urbanización / el fraccionamiento.
For housing developments, urbanización (Spain) or fraccionamiento (Mexico) is more natural than desarrollo.
Lock in Development 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 Desarrollo used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using desarrollo in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El desarrollo económico del país ha sido impresionante. 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 Development in Spanish
- How do you say development in Spanish?
- The Spanish word for development is desarrollo (deh-sah-RROH-yoh), a masculine noun covering economic, technological, personal, and general progress contexts.
- What verb means 'to develop' in Spanish?
- The verb desarrollar means to develop, and its reflexive form desarrollarse means to develop oneself or to unfold.
- How is desarrollo used in business Spanish?
- In business contexts, desarrollo appears in compounds like desarrollo de negocios (business development), investigación y desarrollo (R&D), and desarrollo profesional (professional development).