anomalía
“anomalía” means “anomaly” in Spanish (something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected).
anomaly
Also: abnormality, irregularity
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Los científicos detectaron una anomalía en el clima.
A2Scientists detected an anomaly in the weather.
El sistema encontró una pequeña anomalía en los datos de ventas.
B1The system found a small irregularity in the sales data.
Una anomalía genética puede ser la causa de esta condición.
B2A genetic abnormality may be the cause of this condition.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: anomalía
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the correct way to say 'the anomaly'?
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👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Greek word 'anōmalia,' which described something uneven or inconsistent. It made its way through Latin into Spanish, keeping its meaning of something that doesn't follow the regular 'smooth' pattern.
First recorded: 16th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'anomalía' always bad?
Not necessarily! While it often refers to errors or medical issues, in science or data, an anomaly is simply something 'unexpected.' It could lead to a new discovery.
Is there a difference between 'anomalía' and 'irregularidad'?
They are very close. 'Irregularidad' often implies that a rule or pattern was broken (sometimes intentionally, like in paperwork), while 'anomalía' is more about a strange occurrence in nature or statistics.
How do I pronounce the ending '-ía'?
Think of it as two separate sounds: a strong 'EE' followed by a short 'ah'. Make sure the stress is on the 'i'.