esperma
“esperma” means “sperm” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
sperm
Also: semen
📝 In Action
El banco de esperma guarda muestras congeladas.
B1The sperm bank stores frozen samples.
El esperma es una célula muy pequeña y móvil.
B2Sperm is a very small, mobile cell.
spermaceti
Also: whale oil wax
📝 In Action
El esperma de ballena se utilizaba para fabricar velas de gran luminosidad.
C2Spermaceti was used to manufacture highly luminous candles.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: esperma
Question 1 of 2
Which article (el/la) should you use with 'esperma'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Ancient Greek word 'spérma,' meaning 'seed' or 'that which is sown.' It entered Spanish via Latin and has maintained its original biological meaning.
First recorded: Medieval Latin
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'esperma' the same as 'semen' in Spanish?
They are often used interchangeably in general conversation. Technically, 'esperma' refers specifically to the reproductive cell, while 'semen' refers to the fluid that carries those cells, but most speakers use 'esperma' to mean the whole fluid.
Why is 'esperma' masculine if it ends in 'a'?
'Esperma' comes from Greek and belongs to a group of words that entered Spanish retaining their masculine gender, even though most native Spanish nouns ending in -a are feminine. Other examples include 'el tema' and 'el problema'.