establishment

See also: Establishment

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *steh₂-

Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti

Proto-Indo-European *-yeti

Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁yeti

Proto-Indo-European *sth₂éh₁yeti

Proto-Italic *staējō

Proto-Italic *staēō

Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom

Proto-Italic *-ðlom

Proto-Italic *-ðlis

Proto-Italic *staðlis?

Latin stabilis

Proto-Indo-European *-yétider.

Latin -iō

Latin stabilīre

Old French establir

Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥

Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom

Proto-Italic *-mentom

Latin -mentum

Old French -ment

Old French establissementbor.

Middle English stablishment

English establishment

Inherited from Middle English *establishment, stablishment, stablisshement, from Old French establissement (modern French établissement), from the verb establir. By surface analysis, establish +‎ -ment.

Pronunciation

• enPR: ĭ-stăb′lĭsh-mənt
• (Received Pronunciation, General American, Canada, Australia) IPA^(key): /ɪˈstæb.lɪʃ.mənt/; (also Received Pronunciation) /ɪˈstab.lɪʃ.mənt/

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

• (New Zealand) IPA^(key): /əˈstɛb.ləʃ.mənt/
• (Scotland) IPA^(key): /ɪˈstab.lɪʃ.mənt/, /ɪˈstab.lɪʃ.mʌnt/
• Rhymes: (weak vowel distinction) -æblɪʃmənt, (weak vowel merger) -æbləʃmənt
• Hyphenation: es‧tab‧lish‧ment

Noun

establishment (countable and uncountable, plural establishments)

2. The act or process of establishing; a ratifying or ordaining; settlement; confirmation.

   Synonym: foundation

   Antonym: abolition

   Since their establishment of the company in 1984, they have grown into a global business.

   • 1787, Article Seven of the United States Constitution:

     The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.

4. The state of being established, founded, etc.; fixed state.

   The firm celebrated twenty years since their establishment by updating their look.

6. That which is established; as a form of government, a permanent organization, business or force, or the place where one is permanently fixed for residence.

   Synonym: foundation

   Pedro's is a fine establishment serving a variety of delicious food.

   exposing the shabby parts of the establishment

8. The ruling class or authority group in a society; especially, an entrenched authority dedicated to preserving the status quo.

   Alternative form: Establishment (when construed as a proper noun)

   It was clear that they viewed the British establishment as qualitatively different from the French establishment.

   It's often necessary to question the establishment to get things done.

   • 2002 November 22, Steven Eke, “Russia's rocky relationship with Nato”, in BBC World Service‎^[1]:

     But there is also real opposition to Nato expansion - and even to Nato's continued existence after the Cold War.
     This is a view shared by a very large part of Russia's military and foreign affairs establishment.

   • 2013 June 28, Joris Luyendijk, “Our banks are out of control”, in The Guardian Weekly‎^[2], volume 189, number 3, page 21:

     Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic who still resists the idea that something drastic needs to happen for him to turn his life around. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. When a series of bank failures made this impossible, there was widespread anger, leading to the public humiliation of symbolic figures.

   • 2024 August 14, “Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin removed from office in shock court ruling”, in CNN‎^[3]:

     The verdict means more upheaval for Thailand’s already turbulent political landscape, in which those pushing for change have frequently run afoul of the establishment – a small but powerful clique of military, royalist and business elites.

   • 2025 March 18, Samuel Moyn, “Can Democrats Learn to Dream Big Again?”, in The New York Times‎^[4], →ISSN, archived from the original on 27 March 2025:

     This story of how American originality lost its way is arresting and well told. On an alternate timeline without Donald Trump in office dismantling the American scientific establishment and Elon Musk kneecapping the American state, it might have been the manifesto of a new politics.

10. The number of staff required to run a department or organisation (often used in the context of healthcare and other public services).

    The cancer department has an establishment of 10 doctors and 30 nurses.

12. (Christianity) The institution and official status of a church as a state church, especially that of the Church of England and historically of Ireland.

    Antonym: disestablishment

    Not all Anglicans have supported establishment.

Derived terms

• antiestablishment
• anti-establishment
• antiestablishmentarianism
• coestablishment
• counterestablishment
• deestablishment
• eating establishment
• establishmentarian
• establishment clause
• establishment growth
• establishmentism
• establishment of the port
• establishment Republican
• freedom of establishment
• nonestablishment
• peace establishment
• preestablishment
• re-establishment, reestablishment
• war establishment

Descendants

• → Belarusian: істэ́блішмент (istéblišmjent)
• → Polish: establishment
• → Russian: исте́блишмент (istéblišment)
• → Ukrainian: істе́блішмент (istéblišment)

Translations

the act of establishing

• Arabic: تَأْسِيس (ar) m (taʔsīs)
• Aragonese: estableiximiento m, establimiento m
• Asturian: establecimientu m
• Belarusian: істэ́блішмент m (istéblišmjent, literally “establishment”)
• Bulgarian: основа́ване (bg) n (osnovávane)
• Catalan: establiment (ca) m
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 建立 (zh) (jiànlì), 設立 / 设立 (zh) (shèlì)

• Danish: etablering c, oprettelse c, etablering c, etablissement c
• Dutch: oprichting (nl) f, etablissement (nl) m
• Esperanto: estiĝo, establiĝo, establo (eo)
• Finnish: perustaminen (fi)
• French: établissement (fr) m
• Galician: establecemento (gl) m
• German: Gründung (de) f, Errichtung (de) f, Herstellung (de) f, Erschaffung (de) f, Etablissement (de) m
• Greek: ίδρυση (el) f (ídrysi)
• Hebrew: ייסוד \ יִסּוּד m (yisud)
• Hindi: स्थापना (hi) f (sthāpnā)
• Hungarian: létesítés (hu), alapítás (hu), megalapítás (hu), létrehozás (hu), létrehozatal (hu)
• Irish: bunaíocht f
• Italian: istituzione (it) f, stabilimento (it) m
• Japanese: 設立 (ja) (せつりつ, setsuritsu), 設置 (ja) (せっち, setchi)
• Korean: 설립(設立) (ko) (seollip), 설치(設置) (ko) (seolchi)
• Kurdish:

  Central Kurdish: پێکھێنان (pêkhênan)

• Malayalam: സ്ഥാപനം (ml) (sthāpanaṁ)
• Norwegian: etablissement m
• Occitan: establiment (oc) m
• Polish: założenie (pl) n pl, zakładanie (pl) n pl, ustanowienie (pl) n pl, ustanawianie (pl), establishment (pl) m
• Portuguese: estabelecimento (pt) m, fundação (pt) f
• Romanian: stabilire (ro) f, așezare (ro) f, instalare (ro) f, instituire (ro) f
• Russian: основа́ние (ru) n (osnovánije), установле́ние (ru) n (ustanovlénije), истеблишмент (ru) m (isteblišment, literally “establishment”)
• Scottish Gaelic: stèidheachadh m
• Spanish: establecimiento (es) m
• Swahili: uanzishwaji
• Swedish: etablerande (sv) n, etablering (sv) c
• Turkish:

  Ottoman Turkish: قوروم (kurum)

• Ukrainian: заснува́ння n (zasnuvánnja), устано́влення n (ustanóvlennja), істе́блішмент m (istéblišment, literally “establishment”)
• Vietnamese: sự thành lập

the state of being established

• Arabic: تَأْسِيس (ar) m (taʔsīs)
• Dutch: oprichting (nl) f
• Esperanto: establado
• Finnish: perustaminen (fi)
• French: établissement (fr) m
• Galician: establecemento (gl) m
• Greek: ίδρυση (el) f (ídrysi)
• Hebrew: היווסד (hivased)
• Hindi: स्थापना (hi) f (sthāpnā)
• Hungarian: (“its establishment”, with an amalgamated possessive) létrejötte (hu)
• Irish: bunaíocht f
• Italian: fondazione (it) f, creazione (it) f
• Japanese: 制度 (ja) (せいど, seido), 施設 (ja) (しせつ, shisetsu)
• Kurdish:

  Central Kurdish: پێکھێنان (pêkhênan)

• Portuguese: estabelecimento (pt) m
• Romanian: stabiliment (ro) n, întreprindere (ro) f, așezământ (ro) n
• Russian: основа́ние (ru) n (osnovánije), учрежде́ние (ru) n (učreždénije)
• Scottish Gaelic: stèidheachadh m
• Spanish: establecimiento (es) m
• Swedish: etablering (sv) c

that which is established

• Arabic: مُؤَسَّسَة (ar) f (muʔassasa)
• Asturian: establecimientu m
• Bulgarian: учрежде́ние (bg) n (učreždénie)
• Catalan: establiment (ca) m
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 機關 / 机关 (zh) (jīguān), 機構 / 机构 (zh) (jīgòu)

• Danish: etablissement n
• Dutch: vestiging (nl), bestel (nl) n
• Esperanto: establaĵo, establo (eo)
• Finnish: yritys (fi)
• French: établissement (fr) m
• Galician: establecemento (gl) m
• Greek: ίδρυμα (el) n (ídryma), καθεστώς (el) n (kathestós)
• Hebrew: מוֹסָד (he) m (mosád)
• Hindi: संस्थान (hi) m (sansthān), संगठन (hi) m (saṅgṭhan), प्रतिष्ठान (hi) m (pratiṣṭhān)
• Hungarian: létesítmény (hu), intézmény (hu), szervezet (hu), (branch) fióktelep (hu)
• Irish: bunaíocht f
• Italian: insediamento (it) m, instaurazione (it) f
• Japanese: 機関 (ja) (きかん, kikan)
• Korean: 기관(機關) (ko) (gigwan)
• Malayalam: സ്ഥാപനം (ml) (sthāpanaṁ)
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: etablissement n

  Nynorsk: etablissement n

• Portuguese: estabelecimento (pt) m
• Romanian: așezământ (ro) n, instituție (ro) f, întreprindere (ro) f, colonie (ro) f
• Russian: учрежде́ние (ru) n (učreždénije), заведе́ние (ru) n (zavedénije)
• Scottish Gaelic: stèidheachadh m
• Spanish: establecimiento (es) m
• Ukrainian: устано́ва (uk) f (ustanóva), за́клад m (základ)
• Vietnamese: tổ chức (vi) (organization, business)

the ruling class or authority group — see also powers that be

• Belarusian: істэ́блішмент m (istéblišmjent)
• Catalan: establishment m
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 建制 (zh) (jiànzhì)

• Czech: etablissement m
• Danish: establishment (da) n
• Dutch: establishment (nl) n
• Finnish: valtaapitävät pl, herrat (fi) pl, establishment (fi)
• French: système (fr) m, classe dirigeante (fr) f, establishment (fr) m
• Georgian: მმართველი წრე (mmartveli c̣re), მმართველი კლასი (mmartveli ḳlasi), ისტებლიშმენტი (isṭeblišmenṭi) (semi-literal)
• Greek: κατεστημένο (el) n (katestiméno)
• Hebrew: מִמְסָד (he) m (mimsád)
• Hungarian: intézményes hatalom, politikai vezető réteg
• Italian: classe dirigente (it) f, establishment (it) m
• Japanese: 既成勢力 (kisei seiryoku), 支配階級 (ja) (shihai kaikyū), エスタブリッシュメント (esutaburisshumento)
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: etablissement n

  Nynorsk: etablissement n

• Polish: establishment (pl) m
• Portuguese: situação (pt) n or f, sistema (pt) m
• Russian: исте́блишмент (ru) m (istɛ́blišmɛnt), истэ́блишмент (ru) m (istɛ́blišmɛnt)
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Latin: establišment (sh) m, vladajuća garnitura f

• Spanish: establishment m
• Swedish: etablissemang (sv) n
• Ukrainian: істе́блішмент m (istéblišment)

staff required to run a department or organisation

• Hungarian: ^{(please verify)} létszám (hu), ^{(please verify)} személyzet (hu), ^{(please verify)} gárda (hu), ^{(please verify)} törzskar (hu)
• Italian: organico (it) m

See also

• antidisestablishmentarianism
• powers that be

Further reading

• “establishment”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Catalan

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English establishment, from Old French establissement.

Pronunciation

• (Central) IPA^(key): /əsˈtabliʃmən/
• (Valencia) IPA^(key): /esˈtabliʒment/

Noun

establishment m (plural establishments)

1. (political science) establishment (the ruling class or authority group)

Further reading

• “establishment”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007
• “establishment”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2026
• “establishment” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “establishment” in ésAdir, El portal lingüístic de la Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals.

Danish

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English establishment. First attested in 1963. Doublet of etablissement.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [eˈsdabliɕmənd]

Noun

establishment

1. (sometimes derogatory, usually uncountable) establishment (the ruling class or authority group)
   • 2017, Jens-Martin Eriksen, Frederik Stjernfelt, Adskillelsens politik, Lindhardt og Ringhof, →ISBN:

     Forestillingen om klasse frem for religion er også farlig for establishmentet her i landet, den ville kunne få hele det politiske system til at bryde sammen, hvis de fattige malajer, muslimerne, ville indse, at de har mere til fælles med de fattige kinesere og de fattige indere, end de har med de velhavende muslimer.

     The view of class rather than religion is also dangerous to the establishment in this country, it would be able to make the entire political system collapse, if the poor Malays, the Muslims, were to realize that they have more in common with the poor Chinese and poor Indians, than they do with the wealthy Muslims.

   • 2015, Jan Guillou, Den demokratiske terrorist, Modtryk, →ISBN:

     Marxistleninisterne eksisterede næsten ikke mere, de fleste gamle kammerater var blevet en del af establishmentet, og den antiimperialistiske bevægelse var stort set gået i sig selv igen.

     The Marxist-Leninists practically didn't exist anymore, most of the old comrades had become a part of the establishment, and the anti-imperialist movement had practically receded into itself once more.

Declension

Declension of establishment

neuter gender	singular
	indefinite	definite
nominative	establishment	establishmentet
genitive	establishments	establishmentets

Further reading

• “establishment” in Den Danske Ordbog

Dutch

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English establishment. Doublet of etablissement.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛsˈtɛ.blɪʃ.mənt/, /ɛsˈtɛ.blɪs.mənt/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: es‧ta‧blish‧ment

Noun

establishment n (plural establishments, diminutive establishmentje n)

1. establishment (the ruling class or authority group)

Further reading

• “establishment” in Woordenlijst Nederlandse Taal – Officiële Spelling, Nederlandse Taalunie. [the official spelling word list for the Dutch language]

Finnish

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English establishment.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈestɑblismentːi/, [ˈe̞s̠tɑ̝bˌlis̠me̞n̪t̪ːi]
• Rhymes: -ismentːi

Noun

establishment (informal)

1. establishment (the ruling class or authority group)

   Synonyms: eliitti, valtaapitävät, yläluokka

Declension

Inflection of establishment (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)
nominative		establishment	establishmentit
genitive		establishmentin	establishmentien
partitive		establishmentiä	establishmentejä
illative		establishmentiin	establishmenteihin
		singular	plural
nominative		establishment	establishmentit
accusative	nom.	establishment	establishmentit
	gen.	establishmentin
genitive		establishmentin	establishmentien
partitive		establishmentiä	establishmentejä
inessive		establishmentissä	establishmenteissä
elative		establishmentistä	establishmenteistä
illative		establishmentiin	establishmenteihin
adessive		establishmentillä	establishmenteillä
ablative		establishmentiltä	establishmenteiltä
allative		establishmentille	establishmenteille
essive		establishmentinä	establishmenteinä
translative		establishmentiksi	establishmenteiksi
abessive		establishmentittä	establishmenteittä
instructive		—	establishmentein
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of establishment (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative establishmentini establishmentini accusative nom. establishmentini establishmentini gen. establishmentini genitive establishmentini establishmentieni partitive establishmentiäni establishmentejäni inessive establishmentissäni establishmenteissäni elative establishmentistäni establishmenteistäni illative establishmentiini establishmenteihini adessive establishmentilläni establishmenteilläni ablative establishmentiltäni establishmenteiltäni allative establishmentilleni establishmenteilleni essive establishmentinäni establishmenteinäni translative establishmentikseni establishmenteikseni abessive establishmentittäni establishmenteittäni instructive — — comitative — establishmenteineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative establishmentisi establishmentisi accusative nom. establishmentisi establishmentisi gen. establishmentisi genitive establishmentisi establishmentiesi partitive establishmentiäsi establishmentejäsi inessive establishmentissäsi establishmenteissäsi elative establishmentistäsi establishmenteistäsi illative establishmentiisi establishmenteihisi adessive establishmentilläsi establishmenteilläsi ablative establishmentiltäsi establishmenteiltäsi allative establishmentillesi establishmenteillesi essive establishmentinäsi establishmenteinäsi translative establishmentiksesi establishmenteiksesi abessive establishmentittäsi establishmenteittäsi instructive — — comitative — establishmenteinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative establishmentimme establishmentimme accusative nom. establishmentimme establishmentimme gen. establishmentimme genitive establishmentimme establishmentiemme partitive establishmentiämme establishmentejämme inessive establishmentissämme establishmenteissämme elative establishmentistämme establishmenteistämme illative establishmentiimme establishmenteihimme adessive establishmentillämme establishmenteillämme ablative establishmentiltämme establishmenteiltämme allative establishmentillemme establishmenteillemme essive establishmentinämme establishmenteinämme translative establishmentiksemme establishmenteiksemme abessive establishmentittämme establishmenteittämme instructive — — comitative — establishmenteinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative establishmentinne establishmentinne accusative nom. establishmentinne establishmentinne gen. establishmentinne genitive establishmentinne establishmentienne partitive establishmentiänne establishmentejänne inessive establishmentissänne establishmenteissänne elative establishmentistänne establishmenteistänne illative establishmentiinne establishmenteihinne adessive establishmentillänne establishmenteillänne ablative establishmentiltänne establishmenteiltänne allative establishmentillenne establishmenteillenne essive establishmentinänne establishmenteinänne translative establishmentiksenne establishmenteiksenne abessive establishmentittänne establishmenteittänne instructive — — comitative — establishmenteinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative establishmentinsä establishmentinsä accusative nom. establishmentinsä establishmentinsä gen. establishmentinsä genitive establishmentinsä establishmentiensä partitive establishmentiään establishmentiänsä establishmentejään establishmentejänsä inessive establishmentissään establishmentissänsä establishmenteissään establishmenteissänsä elative establishmentistään establishmentistänsä establishmenteistään establishmenteistänsä illative establishmentiinsä establishmenteihinsä adessive establishmentillään establishmentillänsä establishmenteillään establishmenteillänsä ablative establishmentiltään establishmentiltänsä establishmenteiltään establishmenteiltänsä allative establishmentilleen establishmentillensä establishmenteilleen establishmenteillensä essive establishmentinään establishmentinänsä establishmenteinään establishmenteinänsä translative establishmentikseen establishmentiksensä establishmenteikseen establishmenteiksensä abessive establishmentittään establishmentittänsä establishmenteittään establishmenteittänsä instructive — — comitative — establishmenteineen establishmenteinensä

Further reading

• “establishment”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎^[5] (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 2 July 2023

French

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English establishment. Doublet of établissement.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛs.ta.bliʃ.mɑ̃/
• Rhymes: -ɑ̃
• Hyphenation: es‧ta‧blish‧ment

Proper noun

establishment m

1. establishment (the ruling class or authority group)

Polish

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *steh₂-

Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti

Proto-Indo-European *-yeti

Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁yeti

Proto-Indo-European *sth₂éh₁yeti

Proto-Italic *staējō

Proto-Italic *staēō

Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom

Proto-Italic *-ðlom

Proto-Italic *-ðlis

Proto-Italic *staðlis?

Latin stabilis

Proto-Indo-European *-yétider.

Latin -iō

Latin stabilīre

Old French establir

Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥

Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom

Proto-Italic *-mentom

Latin -mentum

Old French -ment

Old French establissementbor.

Middle English stablishment

English establishmentubor.

Polish establishment

Unadapted borrowing from English establishment. First attested in 1963.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛsˈta.bliʂ.mɛnt/, (less common) /isˈta.bliʂ.mɛnt/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -abliʂmɛnt
• Syllabification: es‧ta‧blish‧ment

Noun

establishment m inan

1. (derogatory, politics) establishment (the ruling class or authority group) [with adjective ‘what kind’; or with genitive ‘of something’]

   Synonym: elita

   • 1963, Franciszek Ryszka, Noc i mgła. Niemcy w okresie hitlerowskim [Night and Fog. Germany under Hitler], 3. edition (non-fiction), quoted in NKJP, Warszawa: Książka i Wiedza, published 1997, →ISBN, →OCLC:

     Dynamika w połączeniu ze zdobywaniem pozycji lub neutralizowaniem istniejącego establishmentu — oto co się dzieje w latach oczekiwań i przygotowań.

     Dynamism combined with gaining ground or undermining the existing establishment — this is what happens during the years of anticipation and preparation.

Declension

Declension of establishment

	singular	plural
nominative	establishment	establishmenty
genitive	establishmentu	establishmentów
dative	establishmentowi	establishmentom
accusative	establishment	establishmenty
instrumental	establishmentem	establishmentami
locative	establishmencie	establishmentach
vocative	establishmencie	establishmenty

Further reading

• “establishment”, in Wielki słownik języka polskiego‎^[6] (in Polish), Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• “establishment”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎^[7] (in Polish)
• Zygmunt Saloni, et al., editors (2020), “establishment”, in Słownik gramatyczny języka polskiego [Grammatical Dictionary of Polish]‎^[8], 4. online edition, Warszawa

Portuguese

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English establishment.

Proper noun

establishment m

1. establishment (the ruling class or authority group)

Further reading

• “establishment”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026
• “establishment”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Spanish

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English establishment. Doublet of establecimiento.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /esˈtabliʃment/ [esˈt̪a.β̞liʃ.mẽn̪t̪], /eˈstabliʒment/ [eˈst̪a.β̞li.ʒmẽn̪t̪]
• Rhymes: -abliʃment, -abliʒment
• Syllabification: es‧ta‧blish‧ment

Proper noun

establishment m

1. establishment (the ruling class or authority group)

   Synonym: casta

Usage notes

• According to Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) prescriptions, unadapted foreign words should be written in italics in a text printed in roman type, and vice versa, and in quotation marks in a manuscript text or when italics are not available. In practice, this RAE prescription is not always followed.

Further reading

• “establishment”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025