Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| borrador | /boraˈdoɾ/ | masculine |
| minuta | /miˈnuta/ | feminine |
| esbozo | /esˈboθo/ /esˈboso/ |
masculine |
| bosquejo | /bosˈkexo/ | masculine |
| anteproyecto | /ˌantepɾoˈʝeɡto/ | masculine |
In Spanish, there are several ways to express the concept of a draft depending on whether you are talking about a rough outline, a formal legal document or a preliminary project. Use borrador for general written works like essays or emails. If the draft is a very rough visual or conceptual outline, you might use esbozo or bosquejo. For formal administrative or legal contexts, such as the draft of meeting minutes, use minuta. In legislative or governmental settings, the word proyecto can also be used to refer to a draft of a proposed law or regulation.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the level of detail and the context. borrador is the most versatile term for a general written draft. esbozo and bosquejo are used when the draft is a rough outline or a visual sketch rather than a complete text. minuta is specifically reserved for the draft of meeting minutes or formal legal and administrative documents. anteproyecto refers to a formal preliminary version of a project, law or official proposal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, anteproyecto is used when referring to a draft in the fields of architecture or engineering.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
borrador, esbozo, bosquejo and anteproyecto are masculine nouns, while minuta is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/boraˈdoɾ/
Did you know?
- The word borrador does not just mean a draft, but it is also the word used for an 'eraser'.
- In some Spanish speaking countries, a minuta is not just a legal draft, but can also refer to a fixed price menu or a bill in a restaurant.
- In Spanish, the same word minuta is used for both a formal draft of meeting minutes and for crushed ice granules.
Examples in context
- ¿Ya tienes un borrador para poder mirarlo?Do you have a draft for me to look at yet?This sentence asks if a draft is available for review.Tatoeba #13906929 by mexicanhere, translation #13878144 by frpzzd
- Aquí está el borrador del manuscrito, pero los errores aún tienen que ser corregidos.Here is the rough draft of the manuscript, but the errors still have to be corrected.This sentence describes a draft of a manuscript that still requires corrections.Tatoeba #6463852 by carlosalberto, translation #3258509 by sundown
- Necesito revisar el borrador del contrato antes de firmarlo.I need to review the draft of the contract before signing it.
- El equipo presentó el proyecto de ley en la conferencia.The team presented the draft law at the conference.
- Mira este boceto que hice para el nuevo proyecto.Look at this draft I made for the new project.
- Aquí tienes la versión preliminar del informe.Here's the draft version of the report.
- El arquitecto presentó el anteproyecto de la vivienda unifamiliar.The architect presented the draft of the single-family home.
- Te enviaré la versión preliminar del contrato para que la revises.I'll send you the draft version of the contract for your review.
- He terminado el primer borrador de la novela.I have finished the first draft of the novel.
Example conversation
Mateo is showing his writing progress to Sofía in a cafe.
- Sofía¿Cómo va tu nuevo libro, Mateo?How is your new book going, Mateo?
- MateoAún estoy trabajando en el borrador.I am still working on the draft.
- SofíaNo te preocupes, tómate tu tiempo.Don't worry, take your time.
- MateoGracias, Sofía, te lo enseñaré pronto.Thanks, Sofía, I will show it to you soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “draft” translations and entries borrador, minuta, esbozo, bosquejo, anteproyecto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries borrador, bosquejo, esbozo, minuta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
