Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| respectivo/pertinente/respectante/atañedero a | |
| en/por lo que respecta a | |
| con lo de | /kon lo de/ (from spelling rules) |
The English phrase 'regarding' is translated into Spanish using various expressions that vary by register and nuance. Formal options include En cuanto a, Con respecto a, En relación con and Sobre, which are often used in academic or business contexts. En lo que respecta a is also a common way to introduce a specific subject in formal writing or speeches. In a more casual setting, the colloquial phrase con lo de can be used to mean 'regarding' or 'about' a specific situation.
Which one should you use?
While all these terms convey the concept of 'regarding', they differ in tone. Con lo de is an informal, colloquial way to refer to a topic, whereas En cuanto a, Con respecto a and En relación con are formal expressions. En lo que respecta a is specifically used as a formal way to introduce a point of discussion. Sobre is a shorter, formal option used frequently in academic papers and business documents.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal written communication or speeches, you should use En cuanto a, Con respecto a, En relación con, Sobre or En lo que respecta a. If you are speaking in an informal or colloquial setting, you can use con lo de.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase Respecto a is common in Spain and some Latin American countries.
Did you know?
- The casual phrase con lo de often functions as a social 'shorthand' to bring up a sensitive or awkward topic without naming it explicitly.
- In very formal Spanish, the word sobre meaning 'regarding' is the same word used to describe something physically located 'on top of' an object.
- The tiny word lo in the informal phrase con lo de actually descends from the Latin 'illum', which was used to mean 'that one'.
Examples in context
- En cuanto a la reunión de mañana…Regarding tomorrow's meeting…
- Con respecto a su solicitud…Regarding your request…
- En relación con el informe presentado…Regarding the report presented…
- Sobre el tema de la economía…Regarding the topic of the economy…
- Acerca de la fiesta de mañana…Regarding tomorrow's party…
- En relación a tu pregunta…Regarding your question…
- En relación con el tema que tratamos…Regarding the topic we discussed…
- Sobre el trabajo que tienes…Regarding the job you have…
- En lo que respecta al proyecto…Regarding the project…
Sources
- Wiktionary, “regarding” translations, 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 a, con, de, lo, que, CC BY-SA 4.0.
