contaminación
“contaminación” means “pollution” in Spanish (environmental damage).
pollution
Also: contamination
📝 In Action
La contaminación del aire es un gran problema en las ciudades.
A2Air pollution is a big problem in cities.
Debemos reducir la contaminación de los océanos.
B1We must reduce the pollution of the oceans.
La contaminación acústica afecta el sueño de los vecinos.
B2Noise pollution affects the neighbors' sleep.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: contaminación
Question 1 of 3
Which article should you use with 'contaminación'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'contaminatio', which originally meant 'to blend' or 'to make impure by touching'. It comes from 'tangere', the Latin word for 'to touch'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'polución' used in Spanish?
Yes, but 'contaminación' is much more common. 'Polución' is often used specifically for atmospheric pollution, while 'contaminación' is used for everything.
Can I use this word for food safety?
Absolutely. 'Contaminación cruzada' is the standard term for when bacteria moves from one food item to another (cross-contamination).
Does it have a plural form?
Yes, 'contaminaciones', but it is very rare. Usually, we talk about pollution as a general concept in the singular.