Inklingo

How to Say "density" in Spanish

English → Spanish

densidad

/den-see-DAHD//den.siˈðað/

nounB1general
Use 'densidad' when referring to the physical property of how much mass is contained within a given volume, or in the context of how crowded or thick something is.
A jar filled with many colorful marbles packed tightly together compared to a jar with only a few marbles.

Examples

La densidad poblacional de Tokio es muy alta.

The population density of Tokyo is very high.

La densidad del aceite es menor que la del agua.

The density of oil is less than that of water.

Esta ciudad tiene una densidad de población muy alta.

This city has a very high population density.

No me gusta la densidad de esta salsa, prefiero algo más ligero.

I don't like the thickness of this sauce; I prefer something lighter.

The '-dad' ending rule

Words ending in '-dad' are almost always feminine in Spanish. Use 'la' and 'una' with this word.

Describing contents

To say what the density refers to, use 'de' followed by the subject, such as 'densidad de tráfico' (traffic density).

Gender confusion

Mistake: “El densidad del aire.”

Correction: La densidad del aire. (Words ending in -dad are feminine.)

concentración

nounB1general
Use 'concentración' when talking about a large gathering of people or a high level of a substance in a mixture, often implying intensity or focus.

Examples

Se observó una alta concentración de contaminantes en el aire.

A high concentration of pollutants was observed in the air.

Physical vs. Gathering Density

Learners often confuse these by using 'concentración' for physical density or 'densidad' for large groups. Remember, 'densidad' is for physical properties (mass/volume, thickness), while 'concentración' is for the intensity of a substance or the gathering of people.

Related Translations

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