ingeniería
/een-heh-nee-AY-ree-ah/
engineering
This image illustrates ingeniería as the field of study and profession focused on design and construction.
ingeniería(noun)
engineering
?The field of study or profession
engineering degree
?Referring to the qualification obtained
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Since 'ingeniería' is a feminine noun, it always uses the feminine article: 'la ingeniería' (the engineering) or 'una ingeniería' (an engineering degree).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing the Person and the Field
Mistake: "Mi padre es ingeniería. (My father is engineering.)"
Correction: Mi padre es ingeniero. (My father is an engineer.) Remember, 'ingeniería' is the field, 'ingeniero/a' is the person.
⭐ Usage Tips
Specific Fields
When talking about a specific branch, Spanish usually keeps the article: 'la ingeniería eléctrica' (electrical engineering).
This image depicts ingeniería as the physical results of complex planning, such as large-scale infrastructure projects like bridges.
ingeniería(noun)
engineering works
?The physical result of complex planning, e.g., infrastructure
military engineering
?The branch of the armed forces dealing with construction and infrastructure
📝 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.
⭐ Usage Tips
Collective Noun
In this sense, 'ingeniería' often refers to a collective group of people or a system, like 'the military engineering branch.'
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ingeniería
Question 1 of 2
Which Spanish word refers to the person who practices engineering?
📚 More Resources
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.