embrión
“embrión” means “embryo” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
embryo
Also: fetus
📝 In Action
El científico observó el embrión bajo el microscopio.
B2The scientist observed the embryo under the microscope.
El embrión se desarrolla rápidamente en las primeras semanas.
B2The embryo develops quickly in the first weeks.
Muchos animales nacen de un embrión dentro de un huevo.
B1Many animals are born from an embryo inside an egg.
beginning
Also: seed, early stage
📝 In Action
Este pequeño boceto fue el embrión de su obra maestra.
C1This small sketch was the beginning of his masterpiece.
La reunión de ayer fue el embrión de una gran alianza.
C1Yesterday's meeting was the seed of a great alliance.
El proyecto está todavía en estado de embrión.
B2The project is still in its early stages.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: embrión
Question 1 of 3
¿Cuál es el plural correcto de 'embrión'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Greek word 'émbryon', which described something that grows or swells inside another thing.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'embrión' the same as 'feto'?
Technically, no. In biology, an 'embrión' is the earliest stage, and it becomes a 'feto' later in development. However, in casual talk, people sometimes mix them up.
Why does the plural 'embriones' lose the accent?
In Spanish, we only use an accent mark if the word breaks the standard rules of stress. When you add '-es' to the end, the stress naturally falls on the correct syllable, so the mark is no longer needed.
Can I use 'embrión' for a new business?
Yes! It's a very common way to say that a business is in the 'seed' or 'startup' phase.