How to Say "Reform" in Spanish

reforma

/reˈfoɾma/feminine

The English phrase 'reform' is translated into Spanish as reforma.

The noun reforma is commonly used in political and legal contexts to refer to structural changes in laws or systems.

Meaning: amendment (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The noun reforma is derived from the verb reformar, meaning to shape or form again.

The plural form of reforma is reformas.

/reˈfoɾma/

The Spanish word reforma shares the same DNA as the English word 'morph', as both stem from the Greek μορφή meaning 'shape'.
In Spanish, la Reforma often refers specifically to the 19th-century period of liberal reforms in Mexico that separated church and state.
If you are talking about a physical improvement to a building, you might use reforma instead of 'reparación', even though English speakers might use 'repair' or 'renovation'.

¿La prisión reforma a los criminales?
Does prison reform criminals?
This sentence uses reforma to ask if prison reformulates criminals.
Tatoeba #1386529 by marcelostockle, translation #681877 by Source_VOA
La reforma a la salud no puede esperar más.
Health reform can't wait anymore.
This sentence uses reforma to discuss the urgency of health reform.
Tatoeba #1165999 by marcelostockle, translation #1166000 by marcelostockle
El estado va a reformar sus políticas de drogas.
The state is going to reform its drug policies.
This sentence uses the related verb reformar to describe changing drug policies.
Tatoeba #1295168 by marcelostockle, translation #681876 by Source_VOA
El gobierno propuso una reforma educativa para mejorar la calidad de la enseñanza.
The government proposed an educational reform to improve the quality of teaching.
El nuevo director llevó a cabo una renovación en la empresa para adaptarse a las nuevas tecnologías.
The new director carried out a reform in the company to adapt to new technologies.
7 more sentences on Tatoeba

Javier and Sofía are discussing a new government law.

Javier

Leí sobre la nueva reforma educativa.
I read about the new educational reform.
Sofía

Sí, creo que esa reforma es necesaria.
Yes, I think that reform is necessary.
Javier

Pero algunos profesores no están de acuerdo.
But some teachers do not agree.
Sofía

Es normal que haya debate sobre la reforma.
It is normal for there to be a debate about the reform.

Sources

Wiktionary, “reform” translations and entries reforma, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries reforma, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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