Soberanía (en. Sovereignty)

[so-be-ra-ˈni-a]

Meaning & Definition

EnglishSpanish
noun
Quality of being sovereign; independent power and autonomy of a State.
National sovereignty is fundamental for the existence of a country.
La soberanía nacional es fundamental para la existencia de un país.
Right of a people to govern themselves.
The struggle for sovereignty was a key aspect of independence.
La lucha por la soberanía fue un aspecto clave en la independencia.
Power that an organism or institution has to make decisions without external intervention.
The sovereignty of the court was challenged by popular protests.
La soberanía de la corte fue desafiada por las protestas populares.

Etymology

From the Latin 'sovranitas', which means 'supreme power'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

popular sovereignty
Principle according to which the authority of the state is based on the will of the people.
soberanía popular
territorial sovereignty
Concept that establishes the authority of a state over its territory.
soberanía territorial
economic sovereignty
Capacity of a country to manage its own resources and economy.
soberanía económica

Related Words

sovereign
Having supreme authority.
soberano
independence
State of not depending on another entity.
independencia
autonomy
Capacity for self-government; freedom to make decisions.
autonomía

Slang Meanings

Power of command in an informal context.
Here the one in charge is me, I have sovereignty.
Aquí el que manda soy yo, tengo la soberanía.
A way to refer to a dominant group.
Among friends, they are the sovereignty of the neighborhood.
Entre amigos, ellos son la soberanía del barrio.