celda
/SELL-dah/
cell
Celda as a detention room or prison cell.
celda(noun)
cell
?prison or detention room
,room
?small, private room in a monastery
cubicle
?a small enclosed space
📝 In Action
El ladrón fue encerrado en una celda de aislamiento.
A2The thief was locked in an isolation cell.
Cada monje tiene su propia celda pequeña para meditar.
B1Each monk has his own small cell for meditation.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Noun
Remember that 'celda' always takes feminine articles: 'la celda' (the cell) and 'una celda' (a cell).
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on Confinement
This meaning of 'celda' always implies a small, enclosed space, usually for living in or being held captive in, like a jail or a religious retreat.
Celda referring to a basic biological unit.
celda(noun)
cell
?biological unit
chamber
?small space within a larger structure, like a beehive
📝 In Action
La célula es la unidad básica de la vida, pero en español técnico también usamos 'celda'.
B2The cell is the basic unit of life, but in technical Spanish we also use 'celda'.
Las abejas construyen celdas hexagonales para almacenar la miel.
B1Bees build hexagonal cells to store honey.
💡 Grammar Points
Celda vs. Célula
While 'célula' (with the accent) is the standard word for biological cells, 'celda' is often preferred in engineering, architecture, and sometimes biology to describe small, structural compartments.
Celda meaning an electrical or power unit, like a battery.
📝 In Action
Los paneles solares están hechos de cientos de celdas fotovoltaicas.
B2Solar panels are made of hundreds of photovoltaic cells.
La batería del coche se compone de seis celdas conectadas.
C1The car battery is composed of six connected cells.
⭐ Usage Tips
Technical Context Clues
If you hear 'celda' used with words like 'solar,' 'batería,' or 'energía,' it almost certainly refers to a power unit.
Celda as a unit within a spreadsheet or table grid.
📝 In Action
Hice clic en la celda A1 para empezar a escribir el título.
B1I clicked on cell A1 to start typing the title.
Si arrastras la celda, copiarás la fórmula a las siguientes filas.
B2If you drag the cell, you will copy the formula to the following rows.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: celda
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'celda' in its biological/structural meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'celda' the same as 'célula'?
They are very similar! 'Célula' (with the accent) is the standard word for a biological cell (like in the human body). 'Celda' is usually reserved for non-biological units, such as prison rooms, spreadsheet squares, or parts of a battery. Think of 'celda' as a structural or physical compartment.
Why is 'celda' feminine?
'Celda' is feminine because its original Latin root, *cella*, was also a feminine noun. In Spanish, words that end in -a are usually feminine, and this is a classic example.