"conozca derecho internacional"

Question

Hi, my initial thought was that we would rather use an article before the noun in the following sentence: "...que el candidato conozca el derecho internacional". Could you please explain?

Silvia Piriz · Accepted Answer

Hola Lio M.
Great question! In Spanish, we often omit the definite article when referring to academic disciplines, fields of study, or subjects in a general sense. "Derecho internacional" (international law) falls into this category, similar to "estudiar medicina" (to study medicine) or "enseñar matemáticas" (to teach mathematics).
Using "el derecho internacional" would be grammatically correct, but it slightly shifts the meaning to refer to international law as a specific body of laws rather than the field itself. In a job description or requirement (like in your example), it’s more natural to omit the article, emphasizing general expertise in the subject rather than a specific legal framework.
Let me know if you'd like further clarification!
Hasta pronto
Silvia