A Level Spanish Practice Exam

Which verb means "to be about" in Spanish?

1. Unir

2. Vincular

3. Venir

4. Tratarse de

The correct answer is: Tratarse de

The phrase "tratarse de" effectively translates to "to be about" in Spanish. It is commonly used to indicate the subject or theme of a discussion, book, film, or any other form of communication. For example, one might say, "El libro se trata de la historia de amor," which means "The book is about a love story." This expression captures the essence of what something discusses or focuses on, which is precisely what the English phrase "to be about" conveys. The other verbs listed do not carry that same meaning. "Unir" translates to "to unite" or "to join," which refers more to the act of bringing things or people together rather than indicating a subject line. "Vincular" means "to link" or "to connect," again focusing more on establishing a relationship rather than describing a thematic element. "Venir," which translates to "to come," does not express a topic or subject matter, and is used in different contexts related to movement or arrival rather than thematic content. Hence, "tratarse de" is the only phrase that correctly encapsulates the idea of being about something in the discussed context.