descendiente
“descendiente” means “descendant” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
descendant
Also: offspring
📝 In Action
Ella dice que es descendiente de una familia noble.
A2She says she is a descendant of a noble family.
Los descendientes de los colonos aún viven en esta región.
B1The descendants of the settlers still live in this region.
No dejó ningún descendiente directo al morir.
B2He left no direct descendant when he died.
descending
Also: falling
📝 In Action
Siguieron un camino descendiente hacia el valle.
B2They followed a descending path toward the valley.
La gráfica muestra una tendencia descendiente en las ventas.
C1The graph shows a downward trend in sales.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: descendiente
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly uses 'descendiente' to talk about family?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'descendens', which combines 'de-' (down) and 'scandere' (to climb). It literally describes someone 'climbing down' a family tree.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'descendiente' and 'descendencia'?
'Descendiente' refers to one specific person (a descendant), while 'descendencia' refers to the whole group of children/grandchildren or the concept of having offspring.
Can I use 'descendiente' for my pets?
Technically yes, especially in breeding contexts, but it sounds very formal. For pets, people usually just say 'crías' (offspring/babies).
Is 'descendente' the same thing?
Usually, 'descendente' is the adjective used for things going down (like a 'descending scale'), while 'descendiente' is almost always used as a noun for people.