Inklingo

How to Say "external" in Spanish

English → Spanish

exterior

ehks-teh-RYOReks.teˈɾjoɾ

adjectiveA1general
Use 'exterior' when referring to the outer surface or part of something, like a building or a place.
A close-up view of the red wooden exterior wall of a house, emphasizing the surface texture.

Examples

Pintaremos la pared exterior de la casa de azul.

We will paint the exterior wall of the house blue.

Necesitamos revisar el cableado exterior antes de la tormenta.

We need to check the outer wiring before the storm.

Gender Consistency

This adjective describes nouns, but unlike many Spanish adjectives, it looks the same whether the noun is masculine (muro exterior) or feminine (pared exterior).

externo

eks-TEHR-noheksˈteɾno

adjectiveA2general
Use 'externo' for things that are applied to or operate on the outside of the body, or for external factors not originating from within.
A bright red apple resting on the outer surface of a closed wooden box.

Examples

Esta crema es solo para uso externo.

This cream is for external use only.

Necesito un disco duro externo para mis archivos.

I need an external hard drive for my files.

Factores externos afectaron el resultado del examen.

External factors affected the exam result.

Matching the Noun

This word changes its ending to match the person or object it describes. Use 'externo' for masculine (el factor), 'externa' for feminine (la capa), and add an '-s' for plurals.

Word Order

In Spanish, this word usually comes after the thing it is describing, like 'disco externo' (hard drive external), which is the opposite of English.

Confusing Externo with Exterior

Mistake: “La parte externo de la casa.”

Correction: La parte exterior de la casa.

extranjero

ehx-trahn-HEH-roheks.tɾaŋˈxe.ɾo

adjectiveA2general
Use 'extranjero' specifically when referring to something or someone from another country, such as a language, a person, or a company.
A vibrant red Japanese torii gate standing alone in a simple, generic green field under a blue sky, illustrating something foreign to the setting.

Examples

Mi hermana estudia un idioma extranjero.

My sister studies a foreign language.

La inversión extranjera es importante para la economía.

Foreign investment is important for the economy.

Matching the Noun

As an adjective, 'extranjero' must change its ending to match the thing it describes in gender (o/a) and number (singular/plural).

Gender Mismatch

Mistake: “Compré una comida extranjero.”

Correction: Compré una comida extranjera. (Because 'comida' is feminine.)

Exterior vs. Externo

Learners often confuse 'exterior' and 'externo'. Remember that 'exterior' usually describes the physical outside of an object or place, while 'externo' is more about function or origin, especially in contexts like medicine or external influences.

Related Translations

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