semanario

A semanario is a periodical published weekly in Spanish-speaking contexts. The term derives from semana, meaning week, and the suffix -ario, indicating a service, publication, or collection. It is used to designate any weekly newspaper or magazine, as distinct from a diario, which is issued daily.

Typical content of a semanario includes news analysis, editorials, cultural essays, literary works, interviews, and summaries of events. Some semanarios target professional or regional audiences and may focus on politics, economy, science, or culture. The format can be print, digital, or a hybrid, with issues often released on a fixed weekday.

Historically, semanarios played a role in public discourse in many Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries, as spaces for opinion, literature, and reformist ideas between daily news cycles. In contemporary media landscapes, many publications have shifted toward branding as revistas semanales or simply weekly magazines, or have integrated into broader digital platforms, while some traditional semanarios have faded from circulation.

Etymology and usage notes: in some regions, semanario is used interchangeably with revista semanal or periódico semanal, though the latter terms are more common for weekly magazines or newspapers. Overall, semanario remains a generic descriptor for a weekly periodical, conveying publication frequency rather than a specific editorial stance.