Inklingo
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semillas

/seh-MEE-yahs/

seeds

A close-up view of a small mound of various brown and white seeds nestled on dark brown soil.

This image shows literal semillas, or seeds, ready for planting or eating.

semillas(noun)

fA1

seeds

?

botanical or edible

Also:

kernels

?

e.g., corn kernels (though grano is also common)

📝 In Action

Compré semillas de chía para añadir a mi yogur.

A1

I bought chia seeds to add to my yogurt.

Necesitas plantar las semillas en la tierra fértil.

A2

You need to plant the seeds in fertile soil.

Mi pájaro solo come semillas de girasol.

B1

My bird only eats sunflower seeds.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • pepitas (small seeds (often pumpkin or squash))
  • granos (grains, kernels)

Common Collocations

  • semillas de sésamo – sesame seeds
  • bolsa de semillas – bag of seeds

💡 Grammar Points

It's Feminine and Plural

Remember that 'semillas' is a feminine noun, so you use feminine words with it, like 'las semillas' or 'unas semillas'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mistaking Gender

Mistake: "El semillas (using masculine article)"

Correction: Las semillas (use the feminine article 'las' because 'semilla' is feminine).

⭐ Usage Tips

Cooking vs. Gardening

This word works for both edible seeds (like chia or poppy) and seeds used for planting in the garden.

A close-up illustration of a single seed that has just cracked open, revealing a bright green seedling emerging from the soil.

Metaphorically, semillas can mean the origin or source of an idea, like the first sprout emerging from the ground.

semillas(noun)

fB2

source

?

origin or root of an idea or problem

,

inception

?

beginning of a movement

Also:

germ

?

figurative start

📝 In Action

Las protestas de 2019 fueron las semillas del cambio político actual.

B2

The 2019 protests were the seeds of the current political change.

Sembraron las semillas de la duda en el jurado.

C1

They sowed the seeds of doubt in the jury.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • sembrar semillas – to sow seeds (figuratively)
  • semillas de la discordia – seeds of discord/conflict

Idioms & Expressions

  • sembrar la semilla – to start or initiate something (often trouble or an idea)

💡 Grammar Points

Figurative Usage

When used figuratively, 'semillas' often refers to the beginning of a conflict or idea, usually paired with verbs like 'sembrar' (to sow/plant).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: semillas

Question 1 of 2

¿Cuál es la traducción más común y literal de 'semillas'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

semilla(seed (singular)) - noun
sembrar(to sow, to plant) - verb
semillero(seedbed, nursery) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

¿Por qué 'semillas' es un sustantivo femenino?

Like its Latin root, 'semilla' (the singular form) is feminine. This means that even in the plural, we must use feminine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'las semillas', 'semillas pequeñas').

¿Cuál es el verbo relacionado con 'semillas'?

The most closely related verb is 'sembrar,' which means 'to sow' or 'to plant' the seeds.