menos importante
/menos impoɾtante/from spelling rules
The English phrase "less important" is translated into Spanish as menos importante.
Depending on the context, there are other ways to express this idea: No tan importante means "not so important," while De menor importancia is a more formal way to say "of lesser importance." In professional or formal settings, you might also use No prioritario to denote that something is not a priority.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective importante must agree in number with the noun it modifies. If you are referring to multiple things, use the plural form menos importantes.
How do you pronounce it?
/menos impoɾtante/
Did you know?
- The word importante shares a root with the English word 'port', specifically referring to a gate or a place where things are carried.
- In some Spanish dialects, importante can be used as an intensifier to mean 'large' or 'significant' in size, such as una suma importante for 'a large sum of money'.
- In Spanish, the verb importar is often used as a 'backward' verb like gustar. To say 'it is less important to me', you say me importa menos, meaning 'it matters less to me'.
Examples in context
- Para el proyecto, el análisis de mercado es menos importante que la estrategia de marketing.For the project, market analysis is less important than marketing strategy.
- Hoy tengo muchas tareas, pero eso es poca cosa, no es tan importante.Today I have many tasks, but that's a small matter, it's not so important.
- La reunión no es prioritaria, podemos hacerla otro día.The meeting is not a priority, we can do it another day.
- Este es un detalle menos importante.This is a less important detail.
- Son cuestiones menos importantes.They are less important matters.
- Este detalle es menos importante.This detail is less important.
- Esa regla es menos importante ahora.That rule is less important now.
- El color es un factor menos importante.The color is a less important factor.
Example conversation
Daniel and María are discussing project tasks in an office.
- Daniel¿Es este informe muy urgente, María?Is this report very urgent, María?
- MaríaNo, es un tema menos importante.No, it is a less important topic.
- DanielEntiendo, lo haré mañana.I understand, I will do it tomorrow.
- MaríaGracias, Daniel.Thanks, Daniel.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries importante, menos, CC BY-SA 4.0.
