potencial
“potencial” means “potential” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
potential
Also: possible, latent
📝 In Action
Existe un riesgo potencial de inundación en la zona baja.
B1There is a potential risk of flooding in the low area.
Necesitamos identificar a los clientes potenciales.
B2We need to identify the potential clients.
potential
Also: capability, power
📝 In Action
El joven tiene un gran potencial para la música.
B1The young man has great potential for music.
Debemos aprovechar el potencial de la energía solar.
B2We must harness the potential of solar energy.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: potencial
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'potencial' as a noun (a thing) rather than an adjective (a description)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *potentia*, which meant 'power' or 'force'. It shares its roots with English words like 'potent' and 'power,' referring to something that has the ability to act or grow.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 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
Does 'potencial' change its ending for feminine nouns?
No. When 'potencial' is used as an adjective (describing a noun), it has a single form ending in -al, which is used for both masculine and feminine singular nouns (e.g., 'el riesgo potencial' and 'la crisis potencial').
Is 'potencial' the same as 'poder'?
They are related, but not the same. 'Poder' usually means 'power' or 'ability' that is currently active. 'Potencial' refers to the power or capacity that is hidden or waiting to be developed.