cortes: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Historical, Political
Quick answer
What does “cortes” mean?
The Spanish parliament or legislature.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The Spanish parliament or legislature.
A historical representative assembly in Spain and Portugal; used historically to refer to similar assemblies in other Spanish-speaking territories during colonial periods.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally rare in both varieties. Its usage is confined to contexts discussing Spanish history, politics, or law.
Connotations
Elicits associations with Spanish history, the transition to democracy after Franco, or medieval Iberian assemblies.
Frequency
Almost never encountered in general English discourse; appears primarily in academic, historical, or specialized political texts.
Grammar
How to Use “cortes” in a Sentence
The Cortes + [verb] (e.g., The Cortes approved the budget.)in the Cortesbefore the CortesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cortes” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A – The word is a proper noun.
American English
- N/A – The word is a proper noun.
adverb
British English
- N/A – The word is a proper noun.
American English
- N/A – The word is a proper noun.
adjective
British English
- N/A – The word is a proper noun.
American English
- N/A – The word is a proper noun.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; only in context of Spanish or EU business regulations passed by the Cortes.
Academic
Used in history, political science, and European studies discussing Spanish governance.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely in everyday conversation unless discussing Spanish current affairs.
Technical
Used in legal and constitutional texts pertaining to Spain.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cortes”
Strong
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cortes”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cortes”
- Using lowercase 'cortes'.
- Pronouncing the final 's' as /z/.
- Confusing it with the surname 'Cortés' (conquistador).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Roughly analogous, but the Cortes is bicameral (like the US Congress), comprising the Congress of Deputies (lower house) and the Senate (upper house).
It is capitalized because it functions as the official proper name of a specific national institution, much like 'Parliament' in the UK.
In English, it is pronounced /ˈkɔːr.teɪs/ or /ˈkɔr.teɪs/, with stress on the first syllable and a long 'a' sound in the second syllable.
Almost never in modern English. Historically, it might refer to similar assemblies in former Spanish territories, but today it is firmly associated with Spain.
The Spanish parliament or legislature.
Cortes is usually formal, historical, political in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common English idioms feature this word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CORTES sounds like 'courts'. The Spanish Cortes is where laws are debated, similar to a supreme court of legislation.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE CORTES IS A FOUNDATION (e.g., 'The Cortes forms the foundation of Spanish democracy.')
Practice
Quiz
What is the 'Cortes' primarily known as?