CIA
/ˈθia/
The English phrase "CIA" is translated into Spanish as CIA.
CIA refers to the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States. In Spanish, the abbreviation is treated as a feminine noun because it refers to la agencia (the agency).
How does it change in a sentence?
Because the acronym implies the feminine noun agencia, you should use the feminine article la when referring to it, as in la CIA.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈθia/
Did you know?
- Spanish media often pair la CIA with the word espionaje to describe the agency's activities, as the word 'intelligence' in Spanish (inteligencia) can more commonly refer to mental capacity.
- While la CIA is a specific entity, Spanish speakers often use el servicio secreto as a catch-all term for any high-level intelligence agency from any country.
- A Spanish speaker might describe a member of la CIA as having 'high intelligence' as a pun, playing on the dual meaning of inteligencia as both an agency and brainpower.
Examples in context
- Él es un agente de la CIA.He's a CIA agent.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as a CIA agent.Tatoeba #2938503 by hayastan, translation #7917626 by fpp
- La persona que le disparó a JFK trabajaba para la CIA.The person who shot JFK worked for the CIA.This sentence describes a person working for the CIA in relation to the JFK assassination.Tatoeba #1859117 by marcelostockle, translation #1686024 by gleki
- La CIA realiza un exhaustivo control de antecedentes para todos los nuevos empleados.The CIA runs a thorough background check on all new employees.This sentence describes a CIA background check for new employees.Tatoeba #5013165 by albrusgher, translation #1168523 by darinmex
- Me gustaría trabajar para la Agencia Central de Inteligencia.I would like to work for the Central Intelligence Agency.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are discussing a news report about international intelligence.
- Daniel¿Viste la noticia sobre la CIA?Did you see the news about the CIA?
- LucíaNo, ¿qué pasó con la CIA?No, what happened with the CIA?
- DanielLa CIA publicó un nuevo informe.The CIA published a new report.
- LucíaEso suena muy interesante, Daniel.That sounds very interesting, Daniel.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry CIA, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
