sede

Sede is a noun used in Spanish and Portuguese with several related meanings. Etymologically, it comes from Latin sedes, meaning seat or base of power. In both languages, the most common sense is the place where an organization or institution is headquartered—the seat or principal offices of a company, government agency, club, or foundation. Phrases such as la sede de la empresa or a sede da empresa describe the central office or administrative center.

In ecclesiastical and legal contexts, sede has a specialized sense. In Catholic usage, La Santa Sede refers to the Holy See, the jurisdiction of the pope and the central governing body of the Catholic Church. The term sede episcopal denotes the bishop’s seat or diocese, while sede vacante refers to a see that is currently without a bishop. These expressions are used in canon law and ecclesiastical administration.

In Portuguese, sede also means thirst, as in “Tenho sede.” This meaning is distinct from the headquarters sense, though both senses share the same etymological root. The word can appear in various formal contexts to designate the official location of an organization, such as “sede central” or “sede administrativa.”

Across Romance languages, sede is commonly translated into English as “seat,” “headquarters,” or, in religious contexts, “Holy See.” The term highlights the concept of a central place of authority, governance, or origin of activity.