Inklingo
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experiencia

/ex-peh-RYEN-sya/

experience

A wise, smiling gardener carefully tending a massive, healthy, fruit-bearing tree, symbolizing accumulated skill and knowledge over time.

Experiencia (Experience): Skill or knowledge gained over time.

experiencia(Noun)

fA2

experience

?

skill or knowledge gained over time

Also:

expertise

?

deep skill in a specific area

,

background

?

in a professional context, like on a resume

📝 In Action

Para este trabajo, se necesita mucha experiencia.

A2

For this job, you need a lot of experience.

Mi abuela tiene más experiencia de vida que nadie que conozco.

B1

My grandmother has more life experience than anyone I know.

Con la práctica, ganarás la experiencia necesaria.

B1

With practice, you will gain the necessary experience.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • conocimiento (knowledge)
  • práctica (practice)
  • pericia (expertise/skill)

Antonyms

  • inexperiencia (inexperience)

Common Collocations

  • tener experiencia en – to have experience in
  • ganar experiencia – to gain experience
  • falta de experiencia – lack of experience

Idioms & Expressions

  • la experiencia es un grado – Experience is valuable in itself; it gives one a certain rank or status.

💡 Grammar Points

A 'Feminine' Word

Even though 'experience' doesn't have a gender in English, 'experiencia' is a feminine word in Spanish. This means any words describing it must also be feminine, like 'una buena experiencia' (a good experience).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'en' vs. 'de'

Mistake: "Tengo experiencia de marketing."

Correction: Tengo experiencia en marketing. When you're talking about having experience *in* a field, always use the word 'en'.

⭐ Usage Tips

On Your Résumé

This is the perfect word to use on a Spanish CV or in a job interview. You can list your 'experiencia laboral' (work experience) or say 'Tengo cinco años de experiencia en...' (I have five years of experience in...).

A happy child standing in a green field, watching a massive, brightly colored hot air balloon gently descend, representing a specific memorable event.

Experiencia (Experience): A specific, memorable event or occurrence.

experiencia(Noun)

fB1

experience

?

a specific event or occurrence

Also:

adventure

?

for an exciting event

,

ordeal

?

for a difficult event

📝 In Action

El viaje a Perú fue una experiencia inolvidable.

B1

The trip to Peru was an unforgettable experience.

Perder mi pasaporte fue una muy mala experiencia.

B1

Losing my passport was a very bad experience.

Cuéntame alguna experiencia divertida de tu infancia.

B2

Tell me a fun experience from your childhood.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • vivencia (life experience)
  • suceso (event)
  • aventura (adventure)

Common Collocations

  • una experiencia única – a unique experience
  • vivir una experiencia – to live/have an experience
  • experiencia cercana a la muerte – near-death experience

⭐ Usage Tips

Perfect for Storytelling

This meaning is your best friend when telling stories. Use it with descriptive words (adjectives) like 'increíble', 'terrible', 'divertida', or 'extraña' to describe things that have happened to you.

A curious person wearing safety goggles carefully pouring a bright blue liquid from a test tube into a beaker containing yellow liquid, causing a vibrant green color change, symbolizing a scientific experiment.

Experiencia (Experiment): A scientific test or trial.

experiencia(Noun)

fB2

experiment

?

a scientific test or trial

Also:

test

?

a procedure to discover something

,

trial

?

an act of testing something

📝 In Action

La experiencia demostró que la teoría era correcta.

B2

The experiment showed that the theory was correct.

Realizamos una experiencia en el laboratorio para observar la reacción química.

C1

We carried out an experiment in the lab to observe the chemical reaction.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • experimento (experiment)
  • prueba (test/proof)
  • ensayo (trial/essay)

Common Collocations

  • una experiencia científica – a scientific experiment
  • realizar una experiencia – to conduct an experiment

⭐ Usage Tips

'Experimento' is More Common

For 'experiment,' you'll almost always hear and use the word 'experimento'. Using 'experiencia' for this meaning sounds very formal or academic. It's good to recognize, but stick to 'experimento' in your own conversations.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: experiencia

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'experiencia' to mean a specific event that happened?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

experimentar(to experience, to experiment) - verb
experto(expert) - noun/adjective
experimental(experimental) - adjective
inexperto(inexperienced) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'experiencia' and 'experimento'?

Great question! While 'experiencia' can sometimes mean a scientific test, it's much more common to use 'experimento' for that. Think of it this way: 'experimento' is what a scientist does in a lab. 'Experiencia' is what you get from living life or doing a job for a long time.

Can I say 'una experiencia'? I thought it was an uncountable noun like in English.

Yes, you absolutely can! This is a key difference from English. When you're talking about a specific event ('an experience'), you use 'una'. For example, 'Tuve una experiencia extraña' (I had a strange experience). When you're talking about the general skill, you don't use 'una'. For example, 'Tengo experiencia' (I have experience).