cápsula
/kahp-soo-lah/
capsule
Una cápsula is a common form of medicine.
📝 In Action
El doctor me recetó unas cápsulas para el dolor.
A2The doctor prescribed me some capsules for the pain.
Prefiero el café de cápsula porque es más rápido.
A1I prefer coffee pods because it's faster.
💡 Grammar Points
Why the accent mark?
The word has an accent mark (tilde) on the 'á' because the voice stress is on the third-to-last syllable. In Spanish, words with this stress pattern always need a written accent.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Capsule vs. Tablet
Mistake: "Using 'cápsula' for every type of medicine pill."
Correction: Use 'cápsula' only for the ones with a gel or plastic-like shell. For hard, pressed powder pills, use 'pastilla' or 'comprimido'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Kitchen talk
If you are at a friend's house and want a Nespresso-style coffee, just ask for a 'cápsula'.
Una cápsula is used to transport people or equipment in space.
📝 In Action
Enterramos una cápsula del tiempo en el jardín.
B1We buried a time capsule in the garden.
La cápsula espacial aterrizó en el océano.
B1The space capsule landed in the ocean.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cápsula
Question 1 of 1
If you are talking about a coffee pod for your machine, which word do you use?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cápsula' masculine or feminine?
It is feminine. You should always say 'la cápsula' or 'una cápsula'.
Does it only mean medicine?
No! While it's very common for medicine, it's also used for coffee pods, space vehicles, and time capsules.