voluntad

Spanish

Etymology

Likely a semi-learned word, which became well-ingrained in the popular language at an early date, taken from Latin voluntātem (cf. also Old Spanish form veluntad), accusative singular form of voluntās (“will, desire, disposition toward”); however, as no descendant of the related volō exists in Spanish either, this makes sense. Portuguese vontade and Old Catalan volentat may be inherited, however. Compare also English volunty, French volonté, and other cognates at voluntas.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bolunˈtad/ [bo.lũn̪ˈt̪að̞]
• Rhymes: -ad
• Syllabification: vo‧lun‧tad

Noun

voluntad f (plural voluntades)

1. will, wish, want, desire

   Synonym: deseo

2. willpower

Derived terms

• a voluntad
• autonomía de la voluntad
• buena voluntad
• de voluntad
• documento de voluntades anticipadas
• fuerza de voluntad
• mala voluntad
• última voluntad
• voluntad divina
• voluntad general

 

Further reading

• “voluntad”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.7, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2023 November 28