A simple, colorful storybook illustration of a glowing atom. The central nucleus is large and bright yellow, surrounded by three distinct orbital paths with small, colorful electron spheres moving around it, symbolizing nuclear energy.

nucleares

noo-kley-AH-rehs

adjectivem/fB1

nuclear?relating to energy, weapons, or the atom (plural)

Also:core?relating to the central group, e.g., 'core issues'

📝 In Action

Las potencias nucleares firmaron un tratado de paz.

The nuclear powers signed a peace treaty.

Muchas familias nucleares tienen dos hijos y una mascota.

Many nuclear families have two children and a pet.

Los residuos nucleares deben ser almacenados con mucho cuidado.

Nuclear waste must be stored very carefully.

Word Connections

Synonyms

atómicos (atomic)
centrales (central)

Common Collocations

centrales nucleares – nuclear power plants
armas nucleares – nuclear weapons
familias nucleares – nuclear families (parents and children)

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Agreement

Since 'nucleares' ends in -es, it is the plural form. It always stays the same whether the noun it describes is masculine (proyectos nucleares) or feminine (plantas nucleares).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Singular Form

Mistake: "Hablamos de las plantas nuclear."

Correction: Hablamos de las plantas nucleares. (The adjective must be plural when the noun is plural.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Focus on the Core

Think of 'nuclear' as meaning 'related to the core or center.' This helps you understand both 'nuclear energy' (from the atom's core) and 'nuclear family' (the core family unit).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: nucleares

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'nucleares'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

nuclear(nuclear (singular)) - adjective

núcleo(nucleus; core) - noun

nucleación(nucleation) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'nuclear' different from 'nucleares'?

'Nuclear' is the singular form (used when describing one thing, like 'una planta nuclear'). 'Nucleares' is the plural form (used when describing multiple things, like 'dos plantas nucleares').

How do I know if I should use 'nucleares' or 'atómicas'?

Both relate to the atom. 'Nucleares' is much more common and preferred when talking about energy, weapons, or power plants. 'Atómicas' is sometimes used, but 'nucleares' is the standard term for these concepts.