electricidad
“electricidad” means “electricity” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
electricity, power
Also: current
📝 In Action
Necesito pagar la factura de la electricidad este mes.
A1I need to pay the electricity bill this month.
Cuando hay tormenta, a veces se va la electricidad.
A2When there is a storm, sometimes the power goes out.
Descubrieron cómo almacenar la electricidad de forma más eficiente.
B1They discovered how to store electricity more efficiently.
spark, tension
Also: vibe
📝 In Action
Había una electricidad palpable en el aire antes del concierto.
B2There was a palpable electricity (tension/excitement) in the air before the concert.
La electricidad entre los dos personajes en la película era increíble.
C1The chemistry (electricity) between the two characters in the movie was incredible.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: electricidad
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'electricidad' in its figurative sense (meaning chemistry or tension)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin term *ēlectricus*, which means 'pertaining to amber.' This is because static electricity was first observed by the ancient Greeks when they rubbed pieces of amber (a fossilized tree resin) and noticed it could attract light objects.
First recorded: 17th century (in Spanish, derived from scientific Latin)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a difference between 'luz' and 'electricidad'?
Yes, but they are often used interchangeably! 'Electricidad' is the precise, general term for the power source. 'Luz' literally means 'light,' but in daily Spanish, people often say 'la luz' to refer to the electric utility bill or when the power goes out (e.g., 'Se fue la luz').
Since 'electricidad' ends in -dad, is it always feminine?
Yes, almost all Spanish nouns that end in '-dad' (like 'ciudad', 'libertad', 'universidad') are feminine. You should always use 'la' with them.