Making Decisions in Spanish: Essential Vocabulary and Expressions

Have you ever needed to express your decision-making process in Spanish? Whether you're deciding what to order at a restaurant, choosing a career path, or making important life choices, knowing how to talk about making decisions in Spanish is essential for effective communication. Today, we'll explore the key vocabulary, verbs, and expressions that Spanish speakers use when making and discussing decisions.

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Making Decisions in Spanish: The Essential Verbs

The foundation of expressing decisions in Spanish starts with knowing the right verbs. Here are the most important ones you'll need:

Decidir (to decide)

This is the most direct verb for expressing decisions in Spanish.

Hoy he decidido hacer unas compras por el centro de la ciudad.

Today I've decided to do some shopping in the city's downtown.

Caption 2, Raquel Haciendo compras
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You can conjugate it in different tenses depending on when the decision was or will be made:

He decidido estudiar medicina. (I have decided to study medicine.)

Decidimos irnos de vacaciones este verano. (We decided to go on vacation this summer.)

Decidirán mañana quién será el nuevo gerente. (They will decide tomorrow who will be the new manager.)

Optar (to opt/choose)

When selecting between alternatives, "optar" is a perfect choice.

y los colegios han tenido que optar por el aprendizaje virtual

and schools have had to opt for virtual learning

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This verb is typically followed by "por":

Optamos por quedarnos en casa. (We opted to stay home.)
Ha optado por un estilo de vida saludable. (He/She has opted for a healthy lifestyle.)
Opté por no decir nada en ese momento. (I chose not to say anything at that moment.)

Elegir (to choose/select)

"Elegir" is used when selecting from multiple options.

Eligieron esta vía porque el banco dispone de almacenes,

They chose this route because the bank has warehouses,

Caption 26, Los Reporteros Sembrar, comer, tirar - Part 3
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Let's see 'elegir' in action across different time frames:

Elegí el vestido rojo para la fiesta. (I chose the red dress for the party.)
Ellos eligieron un destino diferente. (They chose a different destination.)
Elegiremos al ganador la próxima semana. (We'll choose the winner next week.)

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Common Phrases for Making Decisions in Spanish

Beyond single verbs, Spanish offers many expressions for discussing decision-making processes:

Tomar una decisión (to make a decision)

tomé la decisión hace tiempo de reformar la terraza,

I made the decision some time ago to remodel the terrace,

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This expression is widely used in both personal and professional contexts:

Tomé la decisión de mudarme a otro país. (I made the decision to move to another country.)
Tenemos que tomar una decisión pronto. (We have to make a decision soon.)
Han tomado la decisión de cerrar la empresa. (They have made the decision to close the company.)

Hacer una elección (to make a choice)

Has hecho una buena elección.

You've made a good choice.

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Let's see how to use this expression:

Hice una elección difícil pero necesaria. (I made a difficult but necessary choice.)
Tendremos que hacer una elección entre las dos opciones. (We'll have to make a choice between the two options.)

Estar pensando en (to be thinking about)

This phrase is perfect for decisions still in progress:

No me vengás con el cuento que estás pensando en trabajar,

Don't come to me with that story that you're thinking about working,

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Notice how this expression works in practice:

Estoy pensando en comprar un coche nuevo. (I'm thinking about buying a new car.)
Estamos pensando en cambiarnos de casa. (We're thinking about moving houses.)

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Expressing Indecision in Spanish

Sometimes we're uncertain about what to choose. Here's how to express that:

Estar indeciso/a (to be undecided)

Estoy indeciso entre estudiar medicina o ingeniería. (I'm undecided between studying medicine or engineering.)
Están indecisas sobre qué película ver. (They are undecided about which movie to watch.)

No poder decidirse (can't decide)

No puedo decidirme entre el azul o el verde. (I can't decide between blue or green.)
No se pueden decidir todavía. (They can't decide yet.)

Discussing Final Decisions

When a choice has been made, these expressions come in handy:

Llegar a una conclusión (to reach a conclusion)

Hemos llegado a la conclusión de que necesitamos más personal. (We've reached the conclusion that we need more staff.)

Tomar una determinación (to make a determination)

He tomado la determinación de seguir adelante con el proyecto. (I've made the determination to move forward with the project.)

Mastering Making Decisions in Spanish

Now you have the essential vocabulary and expressions to discuss making decisions in Spanish! From the initial thought process with "estar pensando en," to the moment of choice with "decidir" or "elegir," to expressing your final decision with "he tomado la decisión," you're equipped to navigate decision-related conversations with confidence.

Remember that like in any language, context is key. The formality of your situation might determine which expressions are most appropriate. In casual settings with friends, you might simply say "Creo que voy a..." (I think I'm going to...), while in business contexts, more formal expressions like "Hemos determinado que..." (We have determined that...) might be more suitable.

Don't forget to send us your questions and comments about decision-making vocabulary in Spanish!