dictadura

dictatorship

noun deek-tah-DOO-rah Less Common

Origin: From Latin dictatura, from dictator.

Usage Note

Dictadura is a strong political term with heavy historical resonance in Latin America and Spain, where 20th-century dictatorships (la dictadura de Franco, la dictadura de Pinochet) are part of living memory. It should not be used loosely in casual speech without awareness of that weight. The related noun dictador means 'dictator.'

Examples

"El país vivió décadas bajo una dictadura."

Natural Translation

The country lived decades under a dictatorship.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Te Quiero vs Te Amo: Saying "I Love You" in Spanish

Te quiero vs te amo, explained: te quiero is the warm, safe everyday I love you; te amo is deeper and more romantic. A relationship-by-relationship map.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

How to Tell Time in Spanish: A Beginner's Guide

Tell time in Spanish with one formula: es la una vs son las, y and menos for minutes, plus de la mañana, en punto, and 24-hour station times.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

SpanishNow

Ser vs. Estar: When to Use Each in Spanish

Ser vs estar made simple: how you feel and where you are use estar, everything else uses ser. Master the rule, the exceptions, and the traps that flip meaning.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Preterite vs. Imperfect: Spanish Past Tense Made Easy

Preterite vs. imperfect: use the preterite for finished events, the imperfect for ongoing scenery. A trigger-word cheat sheet, flowchart, and examples.

June 9, 2026 6 min read