Which one should you use?
While identificación is the general term, you might see more specific terms depending on the context. Credencial de Identificación is used when emphasizing an official identification document, and Documento de Identidad is used specifically for official identity documents. If you are giving a command to someone to identify themselves, you would use the informal form Identifícate.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Regional variations exist across the Spanish-speaking world. In Mexico, you may hear identificación oficial for official identification or simply credencial to refer to an identification card. In Argentina, documento is frequently used as a shorter way to say documento de identidad. In the Dominican Republic, cédula is the common term for national identification cards.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun identificación is feminine, so it requires feminine articles such as la or una.
How do you pronounce it?
/identifikaˈθjon/
Did you know?
- In some Latin American contexts, identificar can be used colloquially to mean 'to relate to' or 'to feel a connection with' someone's experience.
- The term cédula, often used for national identification, literally translates to 'small slip of paper'.
- The suffix -ción in identificación is the direct descendant of the Latin suffix -tiōnem, which functioned in a nearly identical way to turn verbs into nouns.
Examples in context
- El pasaporte es una forma válida de identificación.A passport is a valid form of identification.This sentence shows how to use identificación to describe a passport as a valid form of ID.Tatoeba #10244265 by Seael, translation #3550792 by adamtrousers
- ¿Cuál es el código de identificación fiscal de la empresa?What's the company's tax identification code?This sentence demonstrates the use of identificación in the context of a tax identification code.Tatoeba #6452925 by diegohn, translation #11101587 by DJ_Saidez
- Usó una tarjeta de identificación falsa para entrar en el bar.She used a fake identification card to get into the bar.This sentence illustrates using identificación to describe an identification card.Tatoeba #10529562 by DJ_Saidez, translation #1848895 by Spamster
- Por favor, muestre su identificación antes de ingresar al edificio.Please show your identification before entering the building.
- ¿Tienes la identificación para entrar a la discoteca?Do you have your ID to enter the nightclub?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a hotel check-in desk.
- AlejandroBuenas tardes, ¿me permite su identificación, por favor?Good afternoon, may I have your identification, please?
- ElenaSí, aquí tiene mi identificación.Yes, here is my identification.
- AlejandroGracias, Elena. Su habitación está lista.Thank you, Elena. Your room is ready.
- ElenaMuchas gracias, Alejandro.Thank you very much, Alejandro.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry identificación, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries identificación, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
