ingeniería
“ingeniería” means “engineering” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
engineering
Also: engineering degree
📝 In Action
Estudió ingeniería civil para diseñar puentes.
B1She studied civil engineering to design bridges.
La ingeniería requiere mucha habilidad matemática.
B2Engineering requires a lot of mathematical skill.
Trabaja en una empresa de ingeniería de software.
B2He works at a software engineering company.
engineering works
Also: military engineering
📝 In Action
El proyecto de la nueva represa es una gran obra de ingeniería.
C1The new dam project is a great work of engineering.
La unidad de ingeniería del ejército construyó el puente provisional.
C2The engineering unit of the army built the temporary bridge.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "ingeniería" in Spanish:
engineering→engineering degree→engineering works→military engineering→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ingeniería
Question 1 of 2
Which Spanish word refers to the person who practices engineering?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *ingenium*, which meant 'innate quality, talent, or cleverness.' It also relates to the word *ingeniare* (to devise or contrive). The Spanish word emphasizes the cleverness and skill needed to design and build complex things.
First recorded: Medieval Latin, entering Spanish in its modern form later.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'ingeniería' always a career path?
Yes, primarily. It refers to the professional discipline of designing, building, and maintaining structures, machines, or systems. When you say 'estudiar ingeniería,' you mean studying to become an engineer.
What is the difference between 'ingeniería' and 'arquitectura'?
Architecture ('arquitectura') focuses on the design, aesthetics, and spatial quality of a structure. Engineering ('ingeniería') focuses on making that design structurally sound, safe, and functional using mathematical and physical principles.

