Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Topic in Spanish: Tema
Tema · noun (masculine) · TEH-mah
Topic in Spanish is tema, a masculine noun (despite ending in -a) used for subjects of discussion, study, or conversation.
Tema is TEH-mah, two syllables with stress on TEH.
El tema de la reunión de hoy es el presupuesto del próximo año.
The topic of today's meeting is next year's budget.
Topic in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for topic, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| tema | topic | TEH-mah | Default, widely understood |
| asunto | topic | subject or matter | |
| tópico | topic | false friend—means cliché in Spanish |
How Native Speakers Use Tema
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Meeting agenda
Cambiemos de tema porque este es muy polémico.
Let's change the topic because this one is too controversial.
Redirecting a conversation.
Academic subject
El profesor explicó el tema muy bien en clase hoy.
The professor explained the topic very well in class today.
Academic setting.
Music track
Ese tema musical fue número uno durante tres semanas.
That song was number one for three weeks.
Tema also means a musical track or song.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Tema
Gender error due to -a ending
Incorrect: La tema es interesante.
Correct: El tema es interesante.
Tema is one of those masculine nouns that ends in -a (from Greek); it takes el, not la.
False cognate with tópico
Incorrect: El tópico de la conversación es la política.
Correct: El tema de la conversación es la política.
Tópico in Spanish usually means a cliché or commonplace idea, not topic—use tema instead.
Lock in Topic 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 Tema used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using tema in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El tema de la reunión de hoy es el presupuesto del próximo año. 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 Topic in Spanish
- How do you say topic in Spanish?
- The correct word is tema, one of several masculine nouns ending in -a (like problema, sistema, programa) that takes the article el.
- Why is tema masculine if it ends in -a?
- Tema comes from Greek, where many abstract nouns had the -ma ending and were neuter—in Spanish, these words became masculine, which is why el tema, el problema, and el sistema all follow this pattern.
- Is tópico a false cognate?
- In most contexts, tópico means a cliché, commonplace, or platitude in Spanish—not a topic of discussion, which makes it a misleading false cognate for English speakers.