examen
/eɡˈsamen/
The Spanish word for exam is examen.
The word examen refers to a formal test of a person's knowledge or proficiency in a particular subject. For a broader term meaning an overall assessment that includes various types of tests or evaluations, you may use evaluación.
Which one should you use?
In educational contexts, specifically in Spain, the word control is used to mean an exam. If you are referring to a small or less significant exam, you might use the informal term pruebita.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, control is used to mean an exam in educational settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because examen is a masculine noun, you use the masculine indefinite article un (un examen) instead of una.
How do you pronounce it?
/eɡˈsamen/
Did you know?
- The word examen is a 'doublet' of the Spanish word enjambre, which means 'swarm of bees'. Both words share the same distant Latin ancestor, though their meanings diverged completely over centuries.
- The informal term pruebita uses a diminutive suffix that doesn't just mean the exam is small. It can be used ironically by students to downplay the stress of a test that is actually very difficult.
- In some Latin American countries, rendir un examen is used to say 'take an exam'. In English, 'rendering' is usually for art or judgment, but in Spanish, it describes the act of performing the test.
Examples in context
- El examen se acerca.The exam is looming.This sentence is useful for describing an upcoming exam with examen.Tatoeba #1737450 by marcelostockle, translation #10534680 by sundown
- El examen fue fácil.The exam was easy.This sentence is useful for describing how easy an exam was with examen.Tatoeba #7954175 by arh, translation #7947450 by CK
- ¡Suerte en el examen!Good luck on the exam!This sentence is useful for wishing someone luck on their exam with examen.Tatoeba #590640 by Leono, translation #409429 by FeuDRenais
- Necesito estudiar para el examen de matemáticasI need to study for the math exam
- Mañana tendremos una prueba de historiaTomorrow we will have a history exam
- La evaluación final consta de cuatro exámenesThe final evaluation consists of four exams
- La profesora nos tomará un control de vocabulario mañanaThe teacher will give us a vocabulary exam tomorrow
- No te preocupes, es solo una pruebita de biologíaDon't worry, it's just a little biology exam
- 244 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two students are talking in the hallway before a class.
- MaríaAlejandro, ¿estás listo para el examen?Alejandro, are you ready for the exam?
- AlejandroNo, no estudié mucho para el examen.No, I didn't study much for the exam.
- MaríaYo también estoy muy nerviosa.I am also very nervous.
- AlejandroEsperemos que el examen sea corto.Let's hope the exam is short.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry examen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries examen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
