acuerdo
/aˈkweɾdo/
In Spanish, the word for settlement is acuerdo.
Meaning: community of people living together, populated place (noun)
Which one should you use?
Asentamiento and establecimiento are formal terms used to describe a physical settlement.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and parts of Central America, ranchería is used to refer to a small rural settlement. In Spain and various Latin American countries, aldea is used to denote a small village or hamlet.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈkweɾdo/
Did you know?
- The word acuerdo shares a root with the English word 'chord' and the Latin cor, meaning 'heart'. It implies that a settlement or agreement is reached when hearts are in harmony.
- In many Spanish speaking regions, the verb acordar is used both to 'agree' and to 'remember'. This means the root of 'settlement' is linguistically linked to the act of recalling a memory.
- In Spanish, the physical act of settling land is expressed by asentamiento, which shares a root with the verb asentar, meaning 'to seat' or 'to set down'.
Examples in context
- El acuerdo es cuestión de tiempo.The settlement is a matter of time.Tatoeba #981369 by Shishir, translation #22328 by gin
- Esperamos un temprano acuerdo sobre el asunto.We expect an early settlement of the affair.Tatoeba #6901914 by albrusgher, translation #47231 by CK
- Tom no estaba completamente feliz con el acuerdo.Tom wasn't completely happy with the settlement.Tatoeba #6059639 by albrusgher, translation #2044972 by CK
- El gobierno está implementando políticas para mejorar los asentamientos rurales.The government is implementing policies to improve rural settlements.
- Durante la colonización, se fundaron muchos establecimientos en esta región.During colonization, many settlements were founded in this region.
- Me encantaría vivir en un poblado tranquilo lejos de la ciudad.I would love to live in a peaceful settlement away from the city.
- Los arqueólogos descubrieron restos antiguos en una ranchería cerca del río.Archaeologists discovered ancient remains in a settlement near the river.
- Mi abuela vive en una aldea pintoresca en las montañas.My grandmother lives in a picturesque village in the mountains.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are discussing ancient history in a museum.
- MaríaEste era un antiguo acuerdo agrícola.This was an ancient agricultural settlement.
- AlejandroParece que el acuerdo era muy grande.It seems the settlement was very large.
- MaríaSí, muchas personas vivían en ese acuerdo.Yes, many people lived in that settlement.
- AlejandroEs fascinante ver cómo era aquel acuerdo.It is fascinating to see how that settlement was.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry acuerdo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries acuerdo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
