voluntades anticipadas
/boluntades antiθipadas/from spelling rulesfeminine, plural
The English phrase "advance directive" is voluntades anticipadas in Spanish.
This term is used in medical and legal contexts to discuss end-of-life care preferences.
Meaning: document expressing a desire to die naturally in certain medical circumstances (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of voluntades (wills/desires) and anticipadas (anticipated/advance).
Which one should you use?
Another common way to refer to an advance directive is instrucciones previas.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the phrase voluntades anticipadas is often used for "advance directive". In some regions of Mexico, advance directive may be referred to as testamento de vida.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form voluntades anticipadas is feminine and plural.
Did you know?
- Spanish has a specific term encarnizamiento terapéutico to describe the 'therapeutic cruelty' or aggressive over-treatment that voluntades anticipadas are designed to prevent.
- In Spain, the official registry for voluntades anticipadas is typically managed by regional health departments instead of private lawyers.
- The word voluntad in the phrase refers to a conscious choice or desire, which is distinct from the word used for a 'will' in the sense of an inheritance document.
Examples in context
- Debemos registrar las voluntades anticipadas en el hospital.We must register the advance directives at the hospital.
- Ella ya firmó sus voluntades anticipadas.She has already signed her advance directives.
- Es importante tener claras las voluntades anticipadas.It is important to have the advance directives clear.
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are discussing their legal documents.
- ElenaAlejandro, ¿ya tienes tus voluntades anticipadas?Alejandro, do you have your advance directives already?
- AlejandroNo, todavía no he hecho ese documento.No, I haven't made that document yet.
- ElenaEs importante para evitar problemas futuros.It is important to avoid future problems.
- AlejandroTienes razón, Elena, lo haré mañana.You are right, Elena, I will do it tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “advance directive” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
