Inklingo

How to Say "interference" in Spanish

English → Spanish

interferencia

/een-tehr-feh-rehn-syah//inteɾfeˈɾensja/

nounB1General
Use 'interferencia' when referring to unwanted signals disrupting communication, like static on a radio or a bad phone connection.
A colorful illustration of a radio with jagged, wavy lines coming out of it, representing signal disruption.

Examples

Hay mucha interferencia en la radio por la tormenta.

There is a lot of static on the radio because of the storm.

No quiero ninguna interferencia en mis asuntos privados.

I don't want any interference in my private affairs.

La interferencia del gobierno causó problemas en la empresa.

The government's meddling caused problems in the company.

Always Feminine

Even though it ends in 'a', it's worth remembering that this word is always feminine. Use 'la' and 'una' with it, and make sure any words describing it also end in 'a' (like 'la interferencia externa').

Using 'en' vs 'con'

When you want to say something is interfering 'in' a situation, use 'en'. If you are talking about technical signals clashing, you might use 'con'.

Spelling Trap

Mistake:interferenchia

Correction: interferencia (In Spanish, the 'sh' or 'ch' sound isn't used here; it's a soft 's' or 'th' sound depending on where you are).

intervención

nounB2General
Use 'intervención' when someone steps into a situation, especially to stop a problem or conflict, implying an active but sometimes unwanted involvement.

Examples

La intervención de la policía evitó que el problema creciera.

The police intervention prevented the problem from growing.

Signals vs. Situations

The most common mistake is using 'interferencia' for personal situations. Remember, 'interferencia' usually refers to technical signal disruptions, while 'intervención' implies a person or group actively getting involved in events.

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