Inklingo

inestabilidad

ee-nes-tah-bee-lee-dahd/inestaβiliˈðad/

inestabilidad means instability in Spanish (general lack of steadiness).

instability

Also: unsteadiness, unpredictability
NounfB2
A tall stack of mismatched wooden blocks leaning precariously to one side, about to fall over.

📝 In Action

La inestabilidad económica preocupa a los ciudadanos.

B1

The economic instability worries the citizens.

Sufre de una ligera inestabilidad al caminar.

B2

He suffers from a slight unsteadiness when walking.

Muchos jóvenes lidian con la inestabilidad emocional.

C1

Many young people deal with emotional instability.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • inestabilidad políticapolitical instability
  • inestabilidad emocionalemotional instability
  • inestabilidad atmosféricaunstable weather conditions

Idioms & Expressions

  • estar en la cuerda flojato be in a very unstable or risky situation

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "inestabilidad" in Spanish:

instabilityunpredictabilityunsteadiness

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: inestabilidad

Question 1 of 3

Which of these is the most likely meaning of 'inestabilidad política'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

From the Latin word 'instabilitas', which was made by combining 'in-' (meaning 'not') and 'stabilis' (meaning 'standing firm' or 'stable').

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: instabilityFrench: instabilitéPortuguese: instabilidade

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'inestabilidad' only used for serious topics?

While it sounds professional, it's used for anything that isn't steady—from a shaky table to a person's mood or even the weather.

How do I pronounce the 'd' at the end?

In Spanish, a 'd' at the end of a word is very soft. It sounds a bit like the 'th' in the English word 'this', but even lighter.

Can I use it as an adjective?

No, 'inestabilidad' is the name of the state (a noun). If you want to describe something as 'unstable', use the adjective 'inestable'.