Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sede | /ˈsede/ | feminine |
| jefatura | /xefaˈtuɾa/ | feminine |
| sede central | /sede θentɾal/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /sede sentɾal/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
The term refers to the center of an organization's activity. In a legal or business context, use sede social to refer specifically to a company's registered office or headquarters. When you need to distinguish a primary headquarters from various regional or branch offices, use sede central to mean the main headquarters.
Which one should you use?
While sede is the general term, use jefatura if you are specifically referring to a police or military headquarters. Use sede central to specify the main headquarters in contrast to other branches. For formal contexts, you may also use Sede Central, Oficina Central or Casa Matriz.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America, Casa Matriz is a common formal way to say headquarters. The term Casa Central is also frequently used in many Latin American countries, such as Argentina, Chile and Peru. Additionally, Sede Principal is a commonly used variation across several Latin American countries.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word sede is a feminine noun. Its plural form is las sedes.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsede/
Did you know?
- The word sede is used in Spanish to describe not only a corporate headquarters but also the host city of a global event like the Olympics.
- The word sede shares a common ancestor with the English word 'sit', as both derive from the Proto-Indo-European root *sed- meaning 'to sit'.
- In many Latin American countries, you might refer to a company's headquarters as its Casa Matriz, which literally translates to 'Mother House'.
Examples in context
- Nuestra sede será inaugurada mañana.Our headquarters will open tomorrow.The sentence uses sede to talk about an inauguration.Tatoeba #1876093 by Shishir, translation #8565924 by guavalava
- Hay pocos voluntarios aquí en la sede.There are few volunteers here at the headquarters.The sentence uses sede to indicate a location for volunteers.Tatoeba #1035159 by hayastan, translation #1338664 by marcelostockle
- Las banderas del mundo ondean con orgullo en la sede de las Naciones Unidas.Flags of the world fly proudly at the United Nations headquarters.The sentence uses sede to describe the location of the United Nations.Tatoeba #6882913 by diegohn, translation #681148 by Source_VOA
- La empresa tiene su sede central en MadridThe company has its headquarters in Madrid
- Vamos a reunirnos en la casa central de la empresaLet's meet at the headquarters of the company
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Daniel are talking about a business trip.
- María¿Cuándo viajas a la sede?When are you traveling to the headquarters?
- DanielVoy a la sede el próximo lunes.I am going to the headquarters next Monday.
- MaríaEspero que la sede sea agradable.I hope the headquarters is nice.
- DanielSí, la sede es muy moderna.Yes, the headquarters is very modern.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “headquarters” translations and entries sede, jefatura, 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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries central, sede, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
