el respaldo

Definition & meaning

Respaldo is usually a masculine noun, el respaldo, with several related meanings:

1. Support or backing
   Help, protection, approval, or support provided by a person, group, or institution.

   • Cuenta con el respaldo de su familia — “He/She has the support of their family.”

2. The back or backrest of a seat
   The part of a chair or seat that supports a person’s back.

   • El respaldo de la silla está roto — “The backrest of the chair is broken.”

3. A backup copy, especially of digital data
   A copy made to protect files from loss or damage.

   • Es importante hacer un respaldo de los archivos — “It is important to make a backup of the files.”

4. A guarantee or financial support
   Something that provides security or credibility.

   • El proyecto tiene el respaldo de una empresa importante — “The project has the backing of an important company.”

Respaldo can also be the first-person singular present form of the verb respaldar:

• Yo respaldo la propuesta — “I support the proposal.”

Grammar & Word origin

As a noun, respaldo is masculine: el respaldo, plural los respaldos.

It comes from espalda ↗ (“back”) with the prefix re-, and is related to the verb respaldar ↗ (“to support,” “to back,” or “to back up”). The original physical sense referred to something placed behind the back; this developed into the figurative meanings of support and protection.

As a verb form, respaldo is the first-person singular of the present indicative of respaldar:

• yo respaldo — “I support,” “I back,” or “I back up”

Synonyms & antonyms

The appropriate synonym depends on the meaning:

• apoyo ↗ — support or backing in general; often interchangeable with the figurative sense of respaldo.
• sustento ↗ — support or basis, often emphasizing what maintains or justifies something.
• aval ↗ — a guarantee or endorsement, especially financial or institutional.
• protección ↗ — protection or shelter, emphasizing safety rather than approval.
• espaldar ↗ — the backrest of a chair or seat; more specifically refers to the physical part.
• copia de seguridad ↗ — a backup copy; this is more explicit and technical than respaldo.

Possible antonyms also vary by context:

• desamparo ↗ — lack of support or protection.
• abandono ↗ — abandonment or withdrawal of support.
• oposición ↗ — opposition, as opposed to approval or backing.
• pérdida ↗ — loss, in the context of data without a backup.

Common phrases & collocations

• dar respaldo ↗ — to provide support or backing
• contar con el respaldo de ↗ — to have the support of
• tener el respaldo de ↗ — to have the backing of
• respaldo financiero ↗ — financial backing
• respaldo político ↗ — political support
• respaldo técnico ↗ — technical support
• respaldo de datos ↗ — data backup
• hacer un respaldo ↗ — to make a backup
• copia de respaldo ↗ — backup copy
• respaldo de una silla ↗ — backrest of a chair