carbón
“carbón” means “coal” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
coal
Also: mineral coal
📝 In Action
La central eléctrica quema carbón para producir electricidad.
B1The power plant burns coal to produce electricity.
El carbón es una fuente de energía no renovable.
A2Coal is a non-renewable energy source.
charcoal
Also: briquette
📝 In Action
Compramos una bolsa de carbón para hacer la parrillada.
B1We bought a bag of charcoal to do the barbecue.
El artista hizo un boceto rápido con un trozo de carbón.
B2The artist made a quick sketch with a piece of charcoal.
lump of coal
Also: candy coal
📝 In Action
Si no ordenan sus juguetes, Santa Claus les traerá carbón.
B1If you don't tidy your toys, Santa Claus will bring you coal.
De pequeño me asustaba recibir carbón en lugar de regalos.
B2As a child, I was scared of receiving coal instead of presents.
carbon
Also: carbon element
📝 In Action
El diamante es una forma cristalina del carbón puro.
C1Diamond is a crystalline form of pure carbon.
La datación por carbono 14 es un método arqueológico común.
C2Carbon-14 dating is a common archaeological method.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "carbón" in Spanish:
briquette→candy coal→carbon element→charcoal→coal→mineral coal→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: carbón
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'carbón' to refer to a festive tradition, rather than a material?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *carbonem*, which meant 'glowing coal' or 'charcoal'. It has always been related to burning and heat.
First recorded: Around the 13th century in Spanish.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'carbón' the same as 'carbono'?
They are very similar, but usually, 'carbón' refers to the physical material (coal, charcoal). 'Carbono' is reserved for the chemical element (C), especially when discussing compounds like 'carbon dioxide'.
How do I ask for charcoal for a barbecue?
You can simply say, 'Necesito carbón' (I need coal/charcoal), and people will usually assume you mean charcoal for grilling. To be precise, you can say 'carbón vegetal' (vegetable charcoal).