Inklingo
← Dictionary

nasal

nah-SAHL/naˈsal/

“nasal” means “nasal” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

nasal

Also: nose-related
Adjectivem or fA2
A friendly face pointing to a prominent, well-defined nose.

📝 In Action

Tengo mucha congestión nasal por el resfriado.

A2

I have a lot of nasal congestion because of the cold.

El aire entra por las fosas nasales.

B1

The air enters through the nasal passages.

Tiene una voz muy nasal cuando canta.

B2

He has a very nasal voice when he sings.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • gangoso (nasal-sounding (specifically for voices))

Antonyms

  • oral (oral (related to the mouth))

Common Collocations

  • congestión nasal – nasal congestion
  • fosas nasales – nostrils / nasal passages
  • voz nasal – nasal voice

nasal sound

NounfC1formal
A person with their hand near their face, mouth open as if humming or making a sound.

📝 In Action

En español, la 'm' y la 'n' son nasales.

C1

In Spanish, 'm' and 'n' are nasals.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • consonante nasal (nasal consonant)

Common Collocations

  • pronunciar una nasal – to pronounce a nasal sound

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "nasal" in Spanish:

nasal→nasal sound→nose-related→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: nasal

Question 1 of 3

Which of these is the correct way to say 'nasal passages'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
nariz(nose) — Noun
nasalidad(nasality) — Noun
nasalizar(to nasalize) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'nasus,' which means 'nose.' It follows a common pattern where Latin nouns turn into Spanish adjectives by adding '-al'.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: nasalFrench: nasalPortuguese: nasal

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'nasal' the same in Spanish and English?

Yes! They are spelled exactly the same and have the same meaning. The only difference is the pronunciation: in Spanish, the stress is on the last syllable (nah-SAHL).

How do I describe someone who talks through their nose?

You can say they have a 'voz nasal' or use the specific adjective 'gangoso'.

What are the plural forms?

The plural is 'nasales' for both masculine and feminine nouns.