acto

Acto is a Spanish noun meaning act, deed, or event. It can refer to a person’s action, the occurrence of something, or a formal ceremony. In drama, acto designates one of the major divisions of a play, equivalent to the English “act.” Etymologically, acto derives from the Latin actus, meaning something done.

In legal and administrative contexts, acto appears in phrases that denote formal actions taken by authorities: acto administrativo (an administrative act), acto jurídico (a legal act), and acto notarial (a notarial act). These terms describe decisions, declarations, or procedures with legal effect.

In religious and ceremonial usage, actos refer to rites or formal proceedings, such as acto litúrgico (liturgical act) or actos conmemorativos (commemorative acts). Historical phrases such as acto de fe (act of faith) also appear in some texts, though usage varies by region.

In everyday Spanish, acto is common and versatile, and its precise meaning depends on context. In English-language writing, the term is typically translated as “act” or “ceremony” rather than kept as acto, except in discussions of Spanish-language law, liturgy, or theater where the original term is used.