Inklingo
Dictionary

poderosa

poh-deh-ROH-sahpo.ðeˈɾo.sa

“poderosa” means “powerful” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:

powerfulB2Adjective

influential, having authority

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strongB1Adjective

physical strength, force

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potentB2Adjective

medicine, chemical

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powerfulAlso: mighty, influential

AdjectivefB2
A powerful queen wearing a golden crown and sitting on a simple wooden throne, holding a scepter, representing influence and authority.

📝 In Action

Ella es la mujer más poderosa de la industria tecnológica.

B2

She is the most powerful woman in the tech industry.

La reina fue una figura política muy poderosa en su época.

B2

The queen was a very powerful political figure in her time.

Necesitamos una estrategia poderosa para ganar esta elección.

C1

We need a powerful strategy to win this election.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • influyente (influential)
  • autoritaria (authoritative)

Antonyms

  • débil (weak)
  • modesta (modest)

Common Collocations

  • familia poderosa – powerful family
  • nación poderosa – powerful nation

strongAlso: intense, forceful

AdjectivefB1
A strong woman, smiling and muscular, effortlessly lifting a very large, smooth boulder above her head, symbolizing great physical strength.

📝 In Action

Sentimos una ráfaga de viento poderosa que casi nos tumba.

B1

We felt a powerful gust of wind that almost knocked us over.

Ella tiene una voz muy poderosa; se escucha en todo el auditorio.

B1

She has a very powerful voice; it can be heard throughout the auditorium.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • fuerte (strong)
  • vigorosa (vigorous)

Antonyms

  • suave (soft)
  • frágil (fragile)

Common Collocations

  • corriente poderosa – powerful current (water)
  • onda poderosa – powerful wave

potentAlso: high-performance, effective

AdjectivefB2
A tiny, clear glass potion bottle filled with intensely glowing purple liquid, radiating strong energy beams, representing a potent chemical.

📝 In Action

Esta es la aspiradora más poderosa que hemos comprado; limpia todo.

B2

This is the most powerful vacuum cleaner we've bought; it cleans everything.

La nueva fórmula química es increíblemente poderosa contra las bacterias.

B2

The new chemical formula is incredibly potent against bacteria.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • herramienta poderosa – powerful tool
  • máquina poderosa – powerful machine

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "poderosa" in Spanish:

effectiveforcefulhigh-performance

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: poderosa

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'poderosa' to describe influence or authority?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
poderoso(powerful (masculine)) — Adjective
poder(power; to be able to) — Noun / Verb
poderosamente(powerfully) — Adverb
🎵 Rhymes
dolorosahermosa
📚 Etymology

Comes directly from the verb 'poder' (to be able, to have power) and the Latin root *potere*. It literally means 'full of power' or 'able to do great things'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: poderosaItalian: poderosa

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'poderosa' and 'fuerte'?

'Poderosa' implies having great authority, influence, or capability (power in a broad sense), or great intensity (like a storm). 'Fuerte' (strong) usually refers more narrowly to physical strength, durability, or flavor.

Can I use 'poderosa' for a man?

No. 'Poderosa' is the feminine form. To describe a man or a masculine noun, you must use 'poderoso' (ending in -o).