How to Say "kernel" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “kernel” is “grano” — use 'grano' when referring to the seed or grain of a plant, like corn or wheat..
English → Spanish
grano
GRAH-noh/ˈɡɾano/
nounA1general
Use 'grano' when referring to the seed or grain of a plant, like corn or wheat.
Examples
El agricultor cosechó mucho grano este año.
The farmer harvested a lot of grain this year.
Quiero un café hecho con granos enteros.
I want a coffee made with whole beans.
Solo queda un grano de arena en el reloj.
There is only one grain of sand left in the clock.
Always Masculine
Even though it refers to small, countable items like seeds, 'grano' is always a masculine noun ('el grano').
núcleo
nounB2technical
Use 'núcleo' when referring to the central part of something, especially in biology (cell nucleus) or computer science (operating system kernel).
Examples
El núcleo de la célula contiene la información genética.
The nucleus of the cell contains the genetic information.
Grain vs. Core
The most common mistake is using 'grano' for abstract concepts like a computer kernel. Remember that 'grano' is for physical seeds or grains, while 'núcleo' is for the essential, central part of something more abstract or technical.
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