An illustration showing three large, brightly colored biological cells (one red, one green, one yellow) with distinct nuclei, viewed against a smooth blue background, representing basic biological units.

células

SEH-loo-las

NounfB1

cells?biological units

Also:units?small structural components (less common)

📝 In Action

Nuestro cuerpo está compuesto por miles de millones de células.

Our body is made up of billions of cells.

Las células madre tienen la capacidad de convertirse en muchos tipos diferentes.

Stem cells have the ability to turn into many different types.

Vimos las células de la cebolla bajo el microscopio.

We saw the onion cells under the microscope.

Word Connections

Synonyms

unidades básicas (basic units)

Common Collocations

células rojas – red cells (red blood cells)
células madre – stem cells
división de células – cell division

💡 Grammar Points

Feminine Plural

Since 'célula' is a feminine word, its plural form 'células' requires feminine articles and adjectives: 'Las células nuevas' (The new cells).

The Singular Form

This word is the plural of 'célula' (cell). Remember that 'célula' is usually used for biological units, not jail cells (which are 'celdas').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Noun and Adjective

Mistake: "Usar 'celular' para referirse a las células. (Using 'celular' to refer to cells.)"

Correction: Use 'células' (the noun). 'Celular' is usually an adjective meaning 'cellular' or the common word for 'cell phone'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Context Clues

If you are reading or talking about biology, medicine, or the body, 'células' almost always means 'biological cells'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: células

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'células'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

célula(cell (singular)) - noun

celular(cellular; cell phone (Latin America)) - adjective/noun

citología(cytology (the study of cells)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'células' y 'celdas'?

'Células' refers to the tiny building blocks of life (like plant or human cells). 'Celdas' (or 'celda' in singular) usually refers to a small, enclosed room, often a prison cell or a honeycombed compartment.

If 'célula' means 'cell,' why is 'celular' used for 'cell phone'?

In Latin America, 'celular' is the common shortened word for 'teléfono celular' (cellular phone). It refers to the technology's structure, which uses a network of small areas (cells) to transmit signals.