Spanish Phrase
Depende de la experiencia.
Meaning
Literally, ‘It depends on the experience.’ The sentence is used to say that a result, opinion, or decision varies according to how much experience someone has or the quality of that experience.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to qualify a statement by pointing out that the outcome is not absolute but changes with the level or type of experience—e.g., in work advice, learning contexts, or when comparing skill levels.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Dependedelaexperiencia.
Depende (verb depender)
‘Depender’ is a regular -er verb; here it is conjugated in third‑person singular present indicative to agree with the implicit subject ‘it’.
de (preposition)
The preposition ‘de’ introduces the cause, source or condition on which something depends.
la (definite article)
‘La’ is the feminine singular definite article that matches the noun ‘experiencia’.
experiencia (noun)
A feminine noun meaning ‘experience’; in this phrase it functions as the complement of the preposition ‘de’.
🗨In Conversation
¿Crees que podré terminar el proyecto en una semana?
Do you think I can finish the project in a week?
Depende de la experiencia.
It depends on the experience.
✕Common Mistakes
Depende en la experiencia.
‘Depender’ takes the preposition ‘de’, not ‘en’. ‘Depende en la experiencia’ is incorrect.
Depende la experiencia.
The preposition ‘de’ cannot be omitted; ‘Depende la experiencia’ sounds like a fragment.
Depende de experiencia.
When speaking about a specific experience you may need an article or possessive (e.g., ‘mi experiencia’). Dropping the article changes the meaning.
↔Alternatives
Varía según la experiencia.
It varies according to experience.
Se basa en la experiencia.
It is based on experience.
Depende de tu experiencia.
It depends on your experience.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking cultures, referencing personal or collective experience is a polite way to soften an opinion or avoid sounding overly definitive. Using ‘Depende de la experiencia’ signals humility and acknowledges that knowledge grows with practice. In formal settings you might prefer ‘Se basa en la experiencia’ for a more polished tone.