Inklingo

How to Say "cell" in Spanish

English → Spanish

pila

PEE-lah/ˈpi.la/

nounA1general
Use 'pila' for a single, portable electrical power source like a battery for a remote control or flashlight.
A simple illustration of a single cylindrical AA battery standing upright.

Examples

¿Tienes una pila AA que me prestes? El control remoto no funciona.

Do you have an AA battery I can borrow? The remote control isn't working.

Esta linterna usa dos pilas grandes.

This flashlight uses two large batteries.

Gender Alert

Even though it ends in '-a', remember that 'pila' is feminine. You must say 'la pila' (the battery) and 'una pila' (a battery).

Pila vs. Batería

Mistake: “Using 'batería' for a small, disposable AA or AAA battery.”

Correction: Use 'pila' for the small ones you put in remotes or toys. 'Batería' is usually reserved for larger, rechargeable items like car batteries or phone batteries.

celda

SELL-dahˈsel.da

nounA2general
Choose 'celda' for a prison or detention room, a small compartment in a spreadsheet, or a photovoltaic unit in solar panels.
A small, sparse prison room with concrete walls, a narrow cot, and a small window with thick vertical bars, illustrating a detention cell.

Examples

El ladrón fue encerrado en una celda de aislamiento.

The thief was locked in an isolation cell.

Cada monje tiene su propia celda pequeña para meditar.

Each monk has his own small cell for meditation.

La célula es la unidad básica de la vida, pero en español técnico también usamos 'celda'.

The cell is the basic unit of life, but in technical Spanish we also use 'celda'.

Las abejas construyen celdas hexagonales para almacenar la miel.

Bees build hexagonal cells to store honey.

Feminine Noun

Remember that 'celda' always takes feminine articles: 'la celda' (the cell) and 'una celda' (a cell).

Celda vs. Célula

While 'célula' (with the accent) is the standard word for biological cells, 'celda' is often preferred in engineering, architecture, and sometimes biology to describe small, structural compartments.

célula

nounB1general
Use 'célula' for the fundamental biological unit of life or for a small, clandestine group within a larger organization, such as a terrorist cell.

Examples

La célula es la unidad más pequeña de los seres vivos.

The cell is the smallest unit of living beings.

Biological vs. Electrical Cells

Many learners confuse 'célula' and 'pila' when referring to cells. Remember that 'célula' is almost always biological (or a clandestine group), while 'pila' specifically means a battery or a single electrical cell in a device.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.