Spain's Housing Revolution: What You Need to Know

Key vocabulary

• decretom.

  decree, official order

  “El Gobierno prepara un nuevo decreto sobre vivienda.”— The Government is preparing a new decree on housing.

  Pattern aprobar un decreto to approve a decree

  Compare ley f. law

  Plural: decretos

  💡 From Latin decretum, referring to a legally binding decision issued by the government.

• viviendaf.

  housing, dwelling

  “No solo habla de los desahucios, también de otros problemas de vivienda.”— It not only talks about evictions, but also other housing problems.

  Pattern problema de vivienda housing problem

  Compare casa f. house

  Plural: viviendas

  💡 From the verb vivir (to live), with the suffix -ienda indicating 'a place to live'.

• desahuciom.

  eviction, forced move-out

  “No solo habla de los desahucios, también de otros problemas de vivienda.”— It not only talks about evictions, but also other housing problems.

  Pattern limitar los desahucios to limit evictions

  Compare desalojo m. eviction

  Plural: desahucios

  💡 Evolved from des- (negative prefix) and ahuyentar (to drive away).

• ministraf.

  minister (female)

  “La ministra Isabel Rodríguez dice que este decreto va a traer cambios estructurales.”— Minister Isabel Rodríguez says that this decree will bring structural changes.

  Pattern la ministra de Vivienda the Minister of Housing

  Plural: ministras; masculine: ministro

  💡 Feminine form adds -a; note the distinction from the masculine ministro.

• estructuraladj.

  structural

  “La ministra Isabel Rodríguez dice que este decreto va a traer cambios estructurales.”— Minister Isabel Rodríguez says that this decree will bring structural changes.

  Pattern cambios estructurales structural changes

  Compare fundamental adj. fundamental

  Plural: estructurales

  💡 From estructura (structure), with -al forming an adjective.

• aprobarv.

  to approve, to pass

  “La ministra quiere aprobar el decreto el próximo martes.”— The minister wants to approve the decree next Tuesday.

  Pattern aprobar un decreto to approve a decree

  Compare aceptar v. to accept

  Present: apruebo, apruebas, aprueba... (o→ue)

  💡 Composed of a- and probar (to prove), originally meaning 'to prove feasible', later extended to 'to approve'.

• vecinaf.

  neighbor (female)

  “Ella menciona el caso de Maricarmen, una vecina de 87 años en Madrid.”— She mentions the case of Maricarmen, an 87-year-old neighbor in Madrid.

  Pattern una vecina de Madrid a neighbor from Madrid

  Compare residente m./f. resident

  Plural: vecinas; masculine: vecino

  💡 From Latin vicinus, referring to a person who lives nearby.

• resolverv.

  to resolve, to solve

  “Pero el decreto quiere resolver más problemas.”— But the decree aims to solve more problems.

  Pattern resolver un problema to solve a problem

  Compare solucionar v. to solve

  Present: resuelvo, resuelves, resuelve... (o→ue)

  💡 Composed of re- (again) and solver (to loosen), meaning 'to solve a problem'.

• acuerdom.

  agreement, consensus

  “La ministra dice que los acuerdos del decreto deben ser útiles para todos.”— The minister says that the agreements of the decree must be useful for everyone.

  Pattern llegar a un acuerdo to reach an agreement

  Compare pacto m. pact

  Plural: acuerdos

  💡 From the verb acordar (to agree); note the distinction from recordar (to remember).

• derechom.

  right, entitlement

  “El objetivo es que la vivienda sea un derecho real, no solo una idea.”— The goal is that housing be a real right, not just an idea.

  Pattern derecho real a real right

  Compare privilegio m. privilege

  Plural: derechos

  💡 Note the distinction from derecho (right-hand side); here it means 'right'.

Grammar spotlight

Sentence patterns to steal

• No solo habla de los desahucios, también de otros problemas de vivienda.

  It not only talks about evictions, but also about other housing problems.

  No solo + verb + object 1, también + object 2You can replace the verb and objects, e.g., 'No solo estudia español, también estudia francés'.

• El objetivo es que la vivienda sea un derecho real, no solo una idea.

  The goal is for housing to be a real right, not just an idea.

  El objetivo es que + subjunctive + noun phraseYou can replace the clause content, e.g., 'El objetivo es que todos tengan trabajo'.

• Muchos estudiantes no encuentran piso en las ciudades donde estudian.

  Many students can't find a flat in the cities where they study.

  Subject + no + verb + object + donde + clauseYou can replace the subject and place, e.g., 'Muchos turistas no encuentran hotel donde van'.