impreciso (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

Adjective

Phonetic Transcription

/im.pɾeˈsi.θo/ (in Spain)
/im.pɾeˈsi.so/ (in Latin America)

Translation Options into English

• imprecise
• vague
• inaccurate

Meaning and Usage

The Spanish word "impreciso" is used to describe something that lacks precision, clarity, or accuracy. It can refer to both physical measurements and qualitative descriptions, making it applicable in various contexts such as scientific discourse, everyday conversation, and technical language.

The word is relatively common in both spoken and written Spanish, but it may appear more frequently in formal or technical contexts, such as academia or professional environments.

Example Sentences

1. Su respuesta fue impreciso y dejó muchas preguntas sin responder.
   His answer was imprecise and left many questions unanswered.

2. La medición fue imprecisa, por lo que tuvimos que repetirla.
   The measurement was imprecise, so we had to redo it.

3. Me gusta la poesía, pero a veces es demasiado imprecisa para mi gusto.
   I like poetry, but sometimes it's too imprecise for my taste.

Idiomatic Expressions

Though "impreciso" is not a central element of widely recognized idiomatic expressions, it can be used in various contexts where an absence of clarity is emphasized. Here are a few illustrative examples:

1. Tener un concepto impreciso
   Cuando no conoces bien un tema, puedes tener un concepto impreciso de él.
   When you don’t know a topic well, you can have an imprecise concept of it.

2. Dar una explicación imprecisa
   No deberías dar una explicación imprecisa, ya que puede llevar a la confusión.
   You shouldn't give an imprecise explanation, as it can lead to confusion.

3. Ser impreciso en los detalles
   Ser impreciso en los detalles puede afectar la credibilidad de un informe.
   Being imprecise in the details can affect the credibility of a report.

4. Un juicio impreciso
   Un juicio impreciso sobre el carácter de alguien puede dar lugar a malentendidos.
   An imprecise judgment about someone’s character can lead to misunderstandings.

Etymology

The word "impreciso" is derived from the Latin "imprecisus," which is formed by prefixing "in-" (not) to "precisus" (precise or cut off). The root "precisus" comes from "praecīsus," which indicates that something is sharp or clear.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms
- vago (vague)
- inexacto (inexact)
- confuso (confused)

Antonyms
- preciso (precise)
- claro (clear)
- exacto (exact)