contingente
/kontinˈxente/
The English word contingent translates to Spanish as contingente.
As an adjective, contingente describes something that is dependent on something unknown, that may or may not occur. While the English word 'contingent' is most commonly an adjective, the Spanish word contingente is frequently used as a noun to refer to a group of people (such as a troop quota or a delegation).
Meaning: dependent on something unknown, that may or may not occur (adj)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, delegación might be used instead of contingente in certain contexts.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective form is invariant for gender, meaning it does not change for masculine or feminine nouns. The plural form is created by adding -s to the end.
How do you pronounce it?
/kontinˈxente/
What mistakes should you avoid?
The word dependiente can be used to express uncertainty and means 'dependent' or 'conditional'.
Did you know?
- The Latin root of contingente refers to something that 'touches' or 'reaches' something else, which is the historical logic behind the idea of being dependent on an event.
- In Spanish philosophical texts, lo contingente refers specifically to things that could have been otherwise, contrasting with lo necesario, or that which must exist.
- In many Spanish-speaking bureaucracies, a contingente refers specifically to a fixed quota of resources or people assigned to a task.
Examples in context
- El contingente de estudiantes extranjeros aumentó este año.The contingent of foreign students increased this year.
- La delegación de atletas argentinos viajará a los Juegos Olímpicos.The Argentine athletic delegation will travel to the Olympic Games.
- Es un factor contingente en este proceso.It is a contingent factor in this process.
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are discussing a business project.
- MaríaEl contrato ya está listo para firmar.The contract is already ready to sign.
- AlejandroPero el pago es contingente al primer envío.But the payment is contingent on the first shipment.
- MaríaEso es justo para ambas partes.That is fair for both parties.
- AlejandroExacto, así reducimos el riesgo.Exactly, that way we reduce the risk.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry contingente, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries contingente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
