emergencia
“emergencia” means “emergency” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
emergency
Also: urgent situation, 911 (or local equivalent)
📝 In Action
Llama al número de emergencia inmediatamente.
A1Call the emergency number immediately.
Tuvimos que ir a la sala de emergencia por el accidente.
A2We had to go to the emergency room because of the accident.
El presidente declaró un estado de emergencia nacional.
B1The president declared a state of national emergency.
emergence
Also: arising
📝 In Action
Estudiamos la emergencia de nuevas formas de vida en el ecosistema.
B2We study the emergence of new forms of life in the ecosystem.
La emergencia de la conciencia humana es un tema filosófico complejo.
C1The emergence of human consciousness is a complex philosophical topic.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: emergencia
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'emergencia' in its most common A2 meaning?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word *emergentia*, which meant 'a rising or coming forth'. It's based on the verb *emergere*, meaning 'to rise out of or up from the water'. The modern sense of a 'crisis' or 'sudden problem' developed because these situations usually 'rise up' unexpectedly.
First recorded: 15th century (as 'emergencia')
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'emergencia' feminine? It sounds so powerful!
'Emergencia' is feminine because of its ending, '-cia'. In Spanish, almost all nouns that end in '-cia' (like *ciencia*, *tolerancia*, *distancia*) are feminine. You must always use 'la' or 'una' before it.
How do I differentiate between 'emergencia' and 'urgencia'?
Both relate to speed, but 'emergencia' always implies a sudden crisis or danger (like a fire or accident). 'Urgencia' just means something is very important and needs to be done quickly (like an urgent meeting or deadline).