esperma
/es-PER-mah/
sperm
Visualizing 'esperma' as a reproductive cell, or sperm.
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun Ending in -a
Even though 'esperma' ends in -a, it is always a masculine noun. Make sure to use 'el' and not 'la': 'El esperma'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Gender
Mistake: "La esperma es blanca."
Correction: El esperma es blanco. (Remember, it's always masculine: el esperma.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Informal
While 'esperma' is the correct scientific term, 'semen' is also widely understood and used, often interchangeably, in Spanish.
Visualizing 'esperma' as spermaceti, the waxy substance historically derived from sperm whales.
📝 In Action
El esperma de ballena se utilizaba para fabricar velas de gran luminosidad.
C2Spermaceti was used to manufacture highly luminous candles.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
In modern Spanish, if you hear 'esperma,' people are almost certainly referring to the biological meaning. This second meaning is restricted to historical texts or specialized fields.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: esperma
Question 1 of 2
Which article (el/la) should you use with 'esperma'?
📚 More Resources
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'.