expedient and Spanish expediente

eks-PÍ-dient

In English

expedient

convenient / advantageous

In Spanish

expediente

archivo de documentos

Spanish "expediente" means: file / record

Why they get mixed up Spanish "expediente" is a set of documents or an archived administrative case. English "expedient" is something convenient or practical for achieving a goal, even if not the most ethical option.

If you want to say...

expedientconveniente o práctico
fileexpediente
recordhistorial

Examples

It was an expedient solution.
Fue una solución conveniente.
They chose the most expedient route.
Eligieron la ruta más práctica.
It was expedient to leave before the storm arrived.
Convenía salir antes de que llegara la tormenta.
The government chose the most expedient policy.
El gobierno eligió la política más conveniente.

Common mistakes in Spanish

Incorrect: ~~Fue un expediente muy práctico.~~

Correct: Fue una solución muy práctica.

Expediente is a file or record. For expedient, use conveniente or oportuno.

Incorrect: ~~Es expediente salir ahora.~~

Correct: Conviene salir ahora.

Use conviene or es oportuno for expedient.

Phrases you will hear

an expedient solutionuna solución conveniente
expedient but unfairconveniente pero injusto
politically expedientpolíticamente conveniente
the most expedient routela ruta más práctica
a fileun expediente
a recordun historial

In a conversation

A:
It was an expedient decision.
Fue una decisión conveniente.
B:
Practical, but not very fair.
Práctica, pero no muy justa.
A:
Where is the student file?
¿Dónde está el expediente del estudiante?
B:
In the office. It's a record of all the grades.
En la oficina. Es un registro de todas las notas.

Test yourself

"An expedient choice" is a choice that is...

To remember it

Expedient = convenient/advantageous. A file/folder (Spanish "expediente") = file/record.

Frequently asked questions

What does Spanish "expediente" mean?

Spanish "expediente" means "file / record". It looks like the English "expedient", which is exactly why it gets confused, but "expedient" means "convenient / advantageous".

Does English "expedient" mean the same as Spanish "expediente"?

Spanish "expediente" is a set of documents or an archived administrative case. English "expedient" is something convenient or practical for achieving a goal, even if not the most ethical option.