Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Suggestion in Spanish: Sugerencia
Sugerencia · noun · soo-heh-REN-syah
Sugerencia is the Spanish word for suggestion, derived from the verb sugerir (to suggest). It covers informal ideas, workplace feedback, and restaurant recommendations alike. For more formal proposals, propuesta carries more weight, while recomendación implies a suggestion backed by experience or expertise.
Pronounce sugerencia as soo-heh-REN-syah, stressing the third syllable. The g before e makes a soft h sound in Spanish.
Agradezco tu sugerencia; la voy a tomar en cuenta.
I appreciate your suggestion; I'll take it into account.
Suggestion in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for suggestion, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| sugerencia | suggestion | soo-heh-REN-syah | Default, widely understood |
| propuesta | suggestion | a more formal proposal or suggestion | |
| recomendación | suggestion | when the suggestion is a recommendation |
How Native Speakers Use Sugerencia
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Making a suggestion at work
¿Puedo hacerte una sugerencia sobre cómo organizar el proyecto?
Can I make a suggestion about how to organize the project?
Sugerencia is the neutral, polite word for offering input at work.
Restaurant recommendation
La sugerencia del chef hoy es un risotto de mariscos con azafrán.
The chef's suggestion today is a seafood risotto with saffron.
Sugerencia del chef is commonly seen on menus for daily specials.
Suggestion box
Si tienes ideas para mejorar el servicio, déjalas en el buzón de sugerencias.
If you have ideas to improve the service, leave them in the suggestion box.
Buzón de sugerencias (suggestion box) is standard in workplaces and businesses.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Sugerencia
Using sugestión instead of sugerencia
Incorrect: Tengo una sugestión para el equipo.
Correct: Tengo una sugerencia para el equipo.
Sugestión exists in Spanish but means something different — it refers to the power of suggestion (psychological influence), not a helpful idea. Sugerencia is the correct word for a recommendation or proposal.
Using propuesta for casual suggestions
Incorrect: Mi propuesta es que veamos una película esta noche.
Correct: Mi sugerencia es que veamos una película esta noche.
Propuesta implies a formal proposal with weight and deliberation. For casual, everyday suggestions, sugerencia is more natural and appropriate.
Lock in Suggestion 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 Sugerencia used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using sugerencia in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Agradezco tu sugerencia; la voy a tomar en cuenta. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Suggestion in Spanish
- How do you say suggestion in Spanish?
- The standard translation is sugerencia. The verb to suggest is sugerir. For example, te sugiero que llegues temprano means I suggest you arrive early.
- What is the difference between sugerencia and sugestión?
- Sugerencia is a recommendation or idea offered to someone. Sugestión refers to the psychological power of suggestion — influencing someone's thoughts or behavior indirectly. They are not interchangeable, and confusing them is a common error.
- How do you conjugate sugerir in Spanish?
- Sugerir is an irregular stem-changing verb (e → ie in present tense): yo sugiero, tú sugieres, él sugiere, nosotros sugerimos, ellos sugieren. In the preterite, it changes to i: sugirió, sugirieron.