Inmediata

Inmediata is the feminine form of the Spanish adjective inmediato. It is used to describe something that occurs without delay, or that is directly connected in time, space, or causal sequence, and can refer to objects, actions, events, or relations that are closest or most immediate to a reference point.

Etymology and grammar: inmediata derives from Latin immediatus, from in- “not” + medius “middle,” historically conveying the idea of something not mediated or direct. In Spanish, the masculine form is inmediato and the plural forms are inmediatos (masculine) and inmediatas (feminine). The related adverb immediately is inmediatamente, formed from the same root.

Usage: In everyday language, phrases such as una respuesta inmediata or una acción inmediata convey promptness. Spatial usage includes vecina or casa inmediata to mean the neighbor or house directly next to a reference point. In legal or analytical contexts, se distingue entre causa inmediata y causa mediata, o entre efectos inmediatos y efectos mediatos, to indicate direct versus indirect or delayed connections.

Regional variation and register: The term is common across Spanish-speaking regiones and is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its precise sense depends on whether it modifies a feminine noun or is used in a fixed expression, and it often collocates with words meaning speed, proximity, or directness.

See also: inmediato, inmediatamente, mediato, mediata.