emergencia
/eh-meh-REHN-see-ah/
emergency
Depicting an emergency—a sudden, serious, and dangerous situation.
emergencia(noun)
emergency
?a sudden, serious, and dangerous situation
urgent situation
?high-priority crisis
,911 (or local equivalent)
?as in 'número de emergencia'
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Noun
Even though it ends in '-a', like many Spanish words ending in '-cia' and '-gencia', it is always feminine. Use 'la emergencia' or 'una emergencia'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong gender
Mistake: "El emergencia."
Correction: La emergencia. (It’s feminine, remember the 'la').
⭐ Usage Tips
Preposition 'de'
When talking about emergency services or items, always link the two nouns using 'de': 'luz de emergencia' (emergency light), 'botón de emergencia' (emergency button).
Depicting emergence—the process of coming into existence or view.
emergencia(noun)
emergence
?the process of coming into existence or view
arising
?the act of appearing
📝 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.
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Use
This meaning is almost always used in a descriptive, non-literal way, often referring to abstract ideas, philosophies, or scientific phenomena.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: emergencia
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'emergencia' in its most common A2 meaning?
📚 More Resources
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).