Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sesgo | /ˈsesɡo/ | masculine |
| bías | /bias/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| tendenciosidad | /tendenθjosidad/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /tendensjosidad/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
Sesgo is the standard term used when referring to a physical slant, a deviation from a straight line or a bias in technical fields such as statistics or data science. To emphasize that a bias is negative, you can use the expression tener un sesgo negativo. Tendenciosidad refers specifically to the quality of being biased or having a preconceived inclination in judgment or opinion. You can also use the related phrases al bies, al sesgo or en diagonal to mean 'in a slanting manner'.
Which one should you use?
Use sesgo when discussing a physical slant, a deviation or a statistical/cognitive bias. Use tendenciosidad when you are specifically referring to the quality of having a preconceived inclination in opinion or judgment.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsesɡo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using bías. Although it may appear in some technical contexts as an anglicism, it is not a standard Spanish word for 'bias' and is often a spelling error of the English word.
Did you know?
- The expression al bies is a common way to say 'on the bias' or 'diagonally', and it is actually a phonetic adaptation of the French word 'biais'.
- In the world of sewing and fashion, if you are cutting fabric al sesgo, you are cutting it on the bias. This means the fabric is cut diagonally across the grain to allow for more stretch and flexibility.
- The term parcialidad is a perfect cognate for 'partiality', but it is frequently used in legal contexts to discuss whether a judge or official is showing favoritism.
Examples in context
- Corte la tela al sesgo.Cut the cloth on the bias.This sentence is useful for demonstrating the use of sesgo when referring to cutting fabric on a slant.Tatoeba #3455636 by carlosalberto, translation #3455071 by AlanF_US
- El periodista mostraba prejuicio en su reportaje sobre el tema.The journalist showed bias in his report on the subject.
- El juez fue criticado por tener un sesgo negativo hacia ciertos grupos étnicos.The judge was criticized for having a negative bias towards certain ethnic groups.
- El estudio muestra un sesgo importante.The study shows an important bias.
- Debemos evitar cualquier sesgo en la investigación.We must avoid any bias in the research.
Example conversation
Mateo and María are discussing a news report in a café.
- MateoCreo que este periódico tiene un sesgo político.I think this newspaper has a political bias.
- MaríaTienes razón, Mateo, su información es muy parcial.You're right, Mateo, their information is very partial.
- Mateo¿Notas ese sesgo en sus artículos?Do you notice that bias in their articles?
- MaríaSí, es muy evidente en todas sus noticias.Yes, it is very evident in all their news.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bias” translations and entries sesgo, bías, 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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
