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académico means academic — a common term in Academic & Exam Prep. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: October 26, 2025

🧠 Academic & Exam Prep

académico

adjective • /[ah-kah-DEH-mee-koh]/

academic

Example:

El estilo académico requiere precisión y claridad.

Academic style requires precision and clarity.

🧠 What does académico mean?

The Spanish word "académico" means academic in English. It refers to anything related to studying, teaching, research, or educational institutions. It can describe people, places, things, or even periods of time. For example, you can talk about an academic year (año académico), academic achievements (logros académicos), or an academic journal (revista académica). "Académico" can also have a slightly negative connotation, implying something is purely theoretical or detached from real-world practicality.

📚 Extra examples

  • El año académico comienza en septiembre.
    The academic year starts in September.
  • Tiene un historial académico impresionante.
    They have an impressive academic record.
  • Esa es una pregunta puramente académica.
    That's a purely academic question.
  • Mi hermano es un académico destacado en su campo.
    My brother is a prominent academic in his field.
  • El debate se centró en temas académicos.
    The debate focused on academic topics.

💡 Did You Know?

The Real Academia Española (Royal Spanish Academy) is the official institution responsible for regulating the Spanish language. It's a great resource if you want to dive deeper into Spanish vocabulary and grammar.

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "académico"

Synonyms: escolar, educativo, universitario, docente, erudito
Opposites: práctico, profesional, empírico

🔍 See more academic & exam prep words

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'academic' in Spanish?
The Spanish word for 'academic' is "académico/a". Remember to match the gender and number with the noun it modifies.
How do you pronounce 'académico' in Spanish?
It's pronounced ah-kah-DAY-mee-koh. The stress falls on the third syllable (DAY).
How do you use 'académico' in a sentence?
Here are a few examples: "El calendario académico es muy exigente" (The academic calendar is very demanding), "Ella tiene un excelente rendimiento académico" (She has excellent academic performance), or "Es un tema de debate académico" (It's a topic of academic debate).
What is the English translation of 'académico'?
The English translation of 'académico' is 'academic'.
Does 'académico' change for gender and number?
Yes, "académico" changes for both gender and number. For a feminine noun, use "académica." For plural masculine nouns, use "académicos," and for plural feminine nouns, use "académicas."
Is 'académico' common in everyday Spanish?
While not as common as words like "hola" or "gracias," "académico" is used regularly, especially in educational settings or when discussing education-related topics.
Does 'académico' have slang or double meanings?
Not really. It's a fairly straightforward word. However, using it to describe something as "purely academic" can sometimes carry a subtle implication of being impractical or irrelevant to real life.
Is 'académico' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
No, the meaning and usage of "académico" are generally consistent across Spain and Latin America.

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