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frecuencia

/freh-KWEN-syah (Note: In Spain, 'cia' sounds like 'thya'; in Latin America, it sounds like 'sya'.)/

frequency

A high quality simple colorful storybook illustration showing a sequence of identical small red balls falling very close together onto a patch of green grass, symbolizing a high rate of occurrence.

When something happens often, we refer to its frecuencia (frequency).

frecuencia(noun)

fA2

frequency

?

how often something happens

Also:

oftenness

?

rate of occurrence

📝 In Action

Debes limpiar tu escritorio con mayor frecuencia.

A2

You should clean your desk more frequently.

¿Con qué frecuencia visitas a tus abuelos?

A2

How often do you visit your grandparents?

La frecuencia de los autobuses es muy baja los domingos.

B1

The bus frequency (how often they run) is very low on Sundays.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • asiduidad (regularity)
  • periodicidad (periodicity)

Antonyms

  • rareza (rarity)
  • irregularidad (irregularity)

Common Collocations

  • con frecuencia – frequently, often
  • baja frecuencia – low frequency (not often)
  • alta frecuencia – high frequency (often)

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

Since 'frecuencia' ends in -a, it is a feminine noun, so you must use 'la' or 'una' before it: 'la frecuencia'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing Adverbs

Mistake: "Usar 'frecuencia' solo como adverbio, e.g., 'Yo voy frecuencia'."

Correction: You must use the structure 'con frecuencia' (with frequency) or the adverb 'frecuentemente': 'Yo voy con frecuencia' or 'Yo voy frecuentemente'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Asking 'How Often'

To ask how often something happens, use the phrase '¿Con qué frecuencia...?'

A high quality simple colorful storybook illustration featuring a bright blue, wavy line with many tight, short curves moving horizontally across a solid orange background, representing a high-frequency signal.

In physics, frecuencia (frequency) refers to the rate of vibration in a wave or signal.

frecuencia(noun)

fB2

frequency

?

wave rate or signal

Also:

rate

?

measurement of speed or cycles

📝 In Action

Esta emisora de radio transmite en la frecuencia modulada (FM).

B2

This radio station transmits on frequency modulation (FM).

El médico midió la frecuencia cardíaca del paciente.

C1

The doctor measured the patient's heart rate (cardiac frequency).

Las ondas de sonido tienen una frecuencia muy alta.

B2

Sound waves have a very high frequency.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • onda (wave)
  • tasa (rate)

Common Collocations

  • frecuencia cardíaca – heart rate
  • frecuencia de muestreo – sampling rate (tech)

💡 Grammar Points

Technical Use

In science, 'frecuencia' measures cycles per second (Hertz) or beats per minute (like heart rate).

⭐ Usage Tips

Context is Key

When talking about technology or biology, use 'frecuencia' just like 'rate' or 'frequency' in English—it refers to a numerical measurement.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: frecuencia

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the common phrase meaning 'often'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

frecuente(frequent) - adjective
frecuentemente(frequently) - adverb
frecuentar(to frequent (a place)) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a difference between 'con frecuencia' and 'frecuentemente'?

They mean the exact same thing: 'frequently' or 'often.' 'Frecuentemente' is a single adverb, while 'con frecuencia' is a very common phrase (adverbial phrase) used often in everyday conversation. You can use either one.

How do I ask about the frequency of a signal or radio station?

You can ask '¿En qué frecuencia transmite?' (On what frequency does it transmit?) or '¿Cuál es la frecuencia de la señal?' (What is the signal's frequency?).