Inklingo

How to Say "difference" in Spanish

English → Spanish

diferencia

/dee-feh-REHN-syah//difeˈɾensja/

NounA2General
Use 'diferencia' to talk about the state of being unlike, a disagreement, or the result of subtraction in everyday contexts.
A small bright red square placed next to a large bright blue circle, clearly illustrating a difference in size and color.

Examples

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'ser' y 'estar'?

What is the difference between 'ser' and 'estar'?

Hay una gran diferencia de precio entre los dos coches.

There's a big price difference between the two cars.

Tuvieron una pequeña diferencia y ahora no se hablan.

They had a small disagreement and now they aren't speaking to each other.

Using 'entre' for Comparisons

When you talk about a difference 'between' two or more things, always use the word 'entre'. For example, 'la diferencia entre el día y la noche' (the difference between day and night).

Forgetting the Gender

Mistake: “El diferencia es pequeño.”

Correction: La diferencia es pequeña. The word 'diferencia' ends in '-a' and is feminine, so you need to use 'la' and make sure any describing words match it, like 'pequeña'.

delta

DELL-tah/ˈdel̪.t̪a/

NounC1Technical/Academic
Use 'delta' when referring to the Greek letter (Δ) used to represent change or variation, particularly in mathematics, physics, or economics.
A minimalist, solid, vibrant blue triangle shape centered against a soft, simple background, representing the geometric form of the Greek letter Delta.

Examples

En las ecuaciones, 'delta' (Δ) representa la variación de la variable.

In equations, 'delta' (Δ) represents the variation of the variable (the change).

La letra griega 'delta' es la cuarta del alfabeto.

The Greek letter 'delta' is the fourth letter of the alphabet.

Symbol vs. Word

When talking about the scientific concept of 'change,' you will often see the symbol (Δ) written, but when you read it aloud, you say 'delta'.

General vs. Technical Usage

Learners often mistakenly use 'delta' in everyday conversations when they mean 'diferencia'. Remember that 'delta' is reserved for specific scientific or mathematical contexts, while 'diferencia' covers all other meanings of 'difference'.

Related Translations

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