nuclear
/noo-klee-AR/
nuclear
The word 'nuclear' relates to atomic energy and physics.
nuclear(adjective)
nuclear
?relating to atomic power or physics
atomic
?related to the atom's center
📝 In Action
El reactor nuclear genera energía sin emitir carbono.
B2The nuclear reactor generates energy without emitting carbon.
El acuerdo limitó el desarrollo de armas nucleares.
C1The agreement limited the development of nuclear weapons.
💡 Grammar Points
Always the same
As an adjective, 'nuclear' does not change form based on whether the thing it describes is masculine (el) or feminine (la). It only changes to 'nucleares' when referring to plural things.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context Clues
If you hear 'nuclear' used with 'energía' (energy) or 'arma' (weapon), it always refers to the powerful energy released from the center of an atom.
The word 'nuclear' can also describe the basic, core family unit.
📝 In Action
La familia nuclear tradicional incluye solo a los padres y a sus hijos inmediatos.
B1The traditional nuclear family only includes the parents and their immediate children.
Este es el componente nuclear de nuestro plan de negocios.
B2This is the core component of our business plan.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't use with extended family
Mistake: "Mi familia nuclear son mis tíos, abuelos y primos."
Correction: Mi familia nuclear son solo mis padres y hermanos. (The word 'nuclear' focuses only on the immediate, central unit.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Think 'Kernel'
The original meaning of the related word 'núcleo' is 'kernel' or 'center.' Use 'nuclear' when you want to describe the absolute, smallest, most essential central part of something.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: nuclear
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'nuclear' in the context of the basic family structure?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'nuclear' change for masculine and feminine nouns?
No, 'nuclear' is an adjective that stays the same whether the noun is masculine (el reactor nuclear) or feminine (la energía nuclear). You only need to change it to 'nucleares' for plural nouns.
What is the difference between 'nuclear' and 'atómico'?
They are often interchangeable when discussing energy or weapons, but 'nuclear' is more common and focuses specifically on the center (the nucleus), while 'atómico' refers to the atom as a whole.