How to Say "extinction" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “extinction” is “extinción” — use 'extinción' when referring to the complete disappearance or dying out of a species or group of organisms.
English → Spanish
extinción
nounB1general
Use 'extinción' when referring to the complete disappearance or dying out of a species or group of organisms.
Examples
El dodo es un ejemplo clásico de una especie en extinción.
The dodo is a classic example of an extinct species.
desaparición
nounB1general
Use 'desaparición' when referring to the act of disappearing, often applied to people, objects, or abstract concepts, rather than the biological end of a species.
Examples
La desaparición de la biblioteca pública dejó a muchos sin acceso a libros.
The disappearance of the public library left many without access to books.
Extinción vs. Desaparición
The most common mistake is using 'desaparición' when talking about species dying out. Remember that 'extinción' is the specific term for the biological end of a species, while 'desaparición' refers to a broader sense of vanishing.
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